V6M@PSUVM.BITNET (01/21/85)
MOSTLy in paraphrase..... Why should you care what the Roman Church says? Well for one thing porn is NOT just an RC issue!!! It affects all people or hadn't you noticed? If you manage to read ANY CHRISTIAN positions on morality you will usually find condemnation of porn and other illicit sexual activities. The churches make statements on these items as part of their pastoral function to lead their particular congregations; to define how their followers should handle the evil and to make a relavant statement on moral, social and ethical problems which their followers have in particular and (N.B.) to make a pastoral statement on problems which affect ALL. HOPEFULLY aleviating or at least ameliorating the problem for ALL. In other words they just might be able to solve a problem that an atheist or agnostic might have. You should listen because it may help you!!!! Of course it is not binding on anyone outside of the particular Church which makes the pronouncement. The cheap shot "this isn't the Vatican" reveals a certain amount of prejudice and a great deal of ignorance on what Catholicism is and even MORE IMPORTANT ignorance on the proper role of religion to man. Why don't you READ a catechism. They are not a restricted item!!! If you are embarresed about getting one contact me at 215 565 3300 and I'll send one to you. I'M NOT BEING SARCASTIC. I'll be happy to buy and send one to you. (No priest will knock at your door.....:-).....) As for the "12 times 12 kids Catholic couple"...cheap shot. Even the Baptists are more civil after Vatican I....:-) Seriously...Go read some basic Church documents such as the Encyclicals to appreciate the TRUE Catholic view of sexuality. I admit many of our members have an almost Puritanical outlook on it. Much of the this problem came from the way the virtue of Chastity was emphasized in example and training but not from the official teaching itself. As happened to other sects, the practice of the virtue tended to negate the importance and beauty of sexuality. We are NOT the only ones with that problem!!! You should remember this!!! Christian and Catholic teaching on sexuality is based on two authorites: Revelation and Natural Law. These are best discussed in net.religion. "Why does <porn discussion> sound like net.religion?"... Because porn is a moral evil and moral evils are the proper area of religion. You have seen the relationship! BREAKTHROUGH!!!! :-) BTW "The Catholic Catechism: A Contemporary Catechism of the Teachings of the Catholic Church" John Hardon, S.J. Doubleday $5.95 paper Marchionni
jeffw@tekecs.UUCP (Jeff Winslow) (01/23/85)
> "Why does <porn discussion> sound like net.religion?"... > Because porn is a moral evil and moral evils are the proper area of religion. Wrong. It's because Marchionni's morals say porn is evil and he insists on presenting this moral view as if it should be universal, on net.women. But I've got to hand it to you. Only someone with a hyperactive imagination (a trait that I tend to admire) would conclude that my making the simple statement that the USA is not the Vatican (or more to the point, the USA is not a Catholic state) shows my "ignorance on the proper role of religion to man". I'm sure my view of this role disagrees with yours, but it would be rash to conclude therefore that I am ignorant. By the way, the point was not to make a cheap shot (are you defensive about your religion?) but to say that the Catholic church is only one of many voices listened to when making legal policy in this country. And moral policy, if such a thing exists. > Why don't you READ a catechism. They are not a restricted item!!! > If you are embarresed about getting one contact me at 215 565 3300 and I'll > send one to you. I'M NOT BEING SARCASTIC. I'll be happy to buy and send one > to you. (No priest will knock at your door.....:-).....) Um, what was that about cheap shots? Why should it embarrass me? I have read some of "A New Catechism" (which I think is hardly official - too bad) and found it very interesting. But consider - in spite of all this friction, in spite of our religious differences (although I am neither atheist or agnostic), we agree on the dangers of censorship. Perhaps there's a lesson there. As for prejudices, Mr. Gerald Owens, Mr. Marchionni references religion far more consistently and with a more single-minded view than I do - why do you single me out for reproach? Hmmm? One's religion is another's prejudice... (Like my non-gender specificity?) Jeff Winslow
mauney@ncsu.UUCP (Jon Mauney) (01/28/85)
> As for the "12 times 12 kids Catholic couple"...cheap shot.
I am guilty of unnecessary promotion of stereotypes, and I apologize.
I was characterizing the view of "sex for procreation and nothing else,"
a view commonly associated with the Catholic church, but one which is
not supported by Official Doctrine. I should have been more accurate.
Please replace the word Catholic with "Straightlaced," or "Puritanical"
or "Busy", or something else.
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Jon Mauney mcnc!ncsu!mauney C.S. Dept, North Carolina State University