Dear NNS,

In giving an example of a woman not knowing who had impregnated her you have made an argument for adequate knowledge and provision of contraceptives.

In the past there were reasons for people to marry young and have children young. A teenager could be out in the working world making a living, and there was a high infant mortality rate.

The situation is different now. In the developed world people need more education, in some cases, until their thirties, to make their way in the world.

Yet their hormones are still as active as those of their ancestors. The morality you subscribe to was adequate for the past. It is simply not adequate in the current age of technology

To David F.

There's no reason to think they weren't using contraceptives. They don't always work. That doesn't resolve the issues at all in that case. But if that's your take away from it, so be it. Whatever you need to justify yourself and your beliefs.

In the past, I would support waiting to marry until after college, if they wanted to go that direction. But not anymore. In my opinion education is too expensive with little rewards after it. Often people get the same jobs that those who didn't go to college, or are just fresh out of high school. Except now they have a huge debt also.

Waiting to get married (and to start a family) has it's benefits, but it also has it's drawbacks. Namely our biology. If people want to have children and have healthy pregnancies and babies, then waiting till their thirties or later closes that window.

More people should just start their lives earlier, instead of going to college and putting their lives on hold. More often they'll find out that that was a mistake. Find a job, save up. Live with your parents even for a while with a job to save up for an investment, that way you have a better start to buy your own home, or start your own business. That works and people can be 25 or 29 with their life in order (maybe even married), instead of 35 or 40 and massive debt, and to many bills to keep up.

Dear NNS,

Not getting higher education is not an option for many jobs. I could not have held the jobs I have had without a university education. Getting an education is not just for jobs. It makes one's life richer. One is aware of more of the world and its riches. I am 92. I am not working, but my life would be much poorer if I had not had an education. I am giving lectures in philosophy. I would probably not be giving them had I not had an education. Giving those keeps me learning. Learning is not just for jobs. It can make your life fuller.

Yes, contraceptives do not always work. However, they usually work and should be used if one doesn't want to conceive. Delaying having children would mean fewer children. One big problem in the world today is uncontrolled population growth. The Chinese realized that with their one child policy. they were wrong because they used coercion. However, it is not wrong if it is done voluntarily. My oldest granddaughter is now in her thirties. She does not want to have children although she may adopt. I wish there were more like her.

Be fruitful and multiply is no longer good advice for the world of today.

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The foundations of the Catholic Church are beginning to tremble from the onslaughts of revelations of cover-ups of paedophilia – including by Pope Francis himself !

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/ex-nuncio-accuses-pope-francis-of-failing-to-act-on-mccarricks-abuse

As well as by the Catholic Archbishop of Washington :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/cardinal-wuerl-says-he-was-diligent-on-pedophile-priests-the-facts-say-not-always/2018/08/16/896f19f8-a0c4-11e8-83d2-70203b8d7b44_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.9f9c77ea4272

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In publishing his reply to a journalist’s question, the Vatican has erased the recommendation by Pope Francis that parents should seek psychiatric help for children who show homosexual tendencies.

When asked why, a Vatican spokeswoman replied that it had been done in order to not "change the thoughts of the Holy Father".

It seems they were not only the thoughts of the “Holy” Father, but also the “holey” thoughts of the Father !

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/28/vatican-erases-popes-remarks-about-psychiatric-help-for-gay-children

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No doubt, Pope Francis had in mind Saul of Tarsus’ epistle to the Romans :

« Romans 1:26-28 New International Version (NIV)

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. »

Based on Saul’s diagnosis, Pope Francis obviously considers that homosexuals have depraved minds and need psychiatric treatment.

A rather archaic point of view, n’est-ce pas ?

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