Social morals versus Church?

ive been thinking about the ethics of my own life and the teaching of the Catholic Church. it seems to me the church might b on to something. lets look at it. if people followed the teaching of the church for example (no sex outside marriage) there would b no HIV or any other sexual disease, right? there would be no children having children right? how much pain would be spared to those kids that find themselves in abortion clinics and have to live with the guilt and shame of beleiving they have no other option but to end the life within them? also it would drasticly improve the global population crisis? what do you think on this???

Let me play the "devil's advocate" (an apt reference, since you are taking the "Church" stand) so that your view may be a little bit wider.

People who use condoms and the pill are also barred (overwhelmingly) from contracting HIV/any other STD's, as well as having children. While the methods (using condoms/pills) are in opposition with what the Catholic Church stands for, the results are also the same - no STD's or unwanted babies.

I just wanted to highlight the fact that there are many "means" to get around the desired "ends", and they do not have to follow what a certain religion says, as well as having the advantage of NOT curtailing sexual expression and sexual freedom between two consenting adults.

The problem I find with any religion in their "stances" is that they essentially see people was "wicked" and "sinners" and therefore are relegated to prescribing a list of "Don'ts", as opposed to celebrating humans in their diversity while encouraging responsible behavior in all areas of their life.

As for the global population crisis? The Catholic Church has a LOT to do with it, by repeatedly expounding on the Bible verse that says "Go forth and multiply", their official position that "all children are blessings" leaves them in a position that goes against condoms/pills and disregards the right of couples to space their families or control their family size. (Again, prescribing abstinence is NOT the answer - we are humans, it's in our nature to express ourselves sexually. It's about itme we stopped thinking of sex as "dirty".)

As for the "children having children", I blame the parents for what these children are going through. There is no substitute for good parenting, and despite the fact that my parents hate my being gay, they have instilled a strong sense of justice in me, of right and wrong, that I carry with me all my life, and I am grateful for that.

In fact, the reason they HATE my being gay is because of religious beliefs, which only underscores that when it comes to beliefs, they can be illogical and irrational. If we were to look at homosexuality from a purely human rights and legal rights point of view, there is no logical reason why gay people should be denied any human right, since gay people ARE humans.

Social morals should recognize freedom from religion - just because people belong to a certain faith doesn't give anyone the right to dictate how I should act, think or feel, or to proclaim their religious beliefs AS social morals. (Which is what the Christian religion seems hell bent on doing.)

I know firsthand how dangerous it is to leave the principle of "separation of church and state" unchecked: I live in the Philippines, a country that is 85% Catholic, and the lines between government/state policies and church doctrines are so blurred, our President stated: "Regarding population control methods, we will follow the Catholic Church's position of going against contraceptives." That is the OFFICIAL government position.

We aren't a democracy; our country works as a theocracy! (And I heard the USA is following this path now. Sad.)

joeyboy has an excellent take on this.

Keep in mind that HIV was man made in a country of poverty.It was only a matter of time till it got around to everyone (HIV).There has been some interesting documentaries on this subject.If this speculation proves true then the researchers,many of whom were of the church are responsible for HIV.

These are the tools the religious community are using to overshadow the real problem (substance abuse).This was once know as the gay mans disease,now we know the truth.

There are many countries that are only now looking at population growth.This falls on local governments,not the churches views.

I'm not really sure why this is in the homosexual category, but the way I see it, people are going to do what they want. It's just a desire they have sometimes and won't help control it. People can pretty disgusting sometimes, but when you realize you don't do the things those other people do..you can realize you are making a big difference in this world.

People have sexual desires for one reason- procreation. Suppressing the desire which continues life is not good for humanity.