Vatican slams book on sexuality written by Irish American nun

Perhaps you're thinking of a ménage à trois, BrianO? The égoisme setup could only turn nasty if you add a third.

eiriamach egoisme a deux? I thought a trois, need to review my French.

The either-or fallacy of sex as "beautiful" or sex as "secular," valueless, deserves only satire. So here, from the NY Times, are some words from Maureen Dowd, who praises Sr. Farley's courage: "Taking on the Council of Trent and a church that has taken a stand against pleasure, Sister Farley asserts that procreation is not the only reason couples should have sex. Fruitfulness need not 'refer only to the conceiving of children,' she writes. 'It can refer to multiple forms of fruitfulness in love of others, care for others, making the world a better place for others' rather than just succumbing to 'an égoisme à deux.' The Vatican showed no mercy to the Sister of Mercy.... This latest ignoble fight with a noble nun adds to the picture of a Catholic Church in a permanent defensive crouch, steeped in Borgia-like corruption and sexual scandals, lashing out at anyone who notes the obvious: They have lost track of right and wrong." Not to mention the shoddy discourtesy in attacking a thoughtful writer at a time when the sun cannot set on sex abuse cases in the RCC! It's a time for RCC clerics to listen humbly to the wisdom of holy women and then to think again.

Sex by it's nature is beautiful and this beauty was radically explored by the late, great, Blessed Pope John Paul 11, in a deeply Catholic framework in the series of talks which he gave during his pontificate. They are better known by the title "Theology Of The Body" and deal with the selfless union of the married couple in conjugal love-making. This is contrast to the secularized view of sex, which stresses a subjective, value-free ideology surrounding it. It looks like Sr Farley has bought into the latter, much to the detriment of the Christian view of it.

tempranillo, If I bought jewelry for cash, and wasn't picking it up for a week, I would be sure to get a receipt! I don't care about the merchant's ethnicity or religion! Unless I knew and trusted him/her, the receipt would be mandatory.

@tempranillo - Better you should ask: Could the vatican come BACK to this? There was that whole Inquisition thing awhile back. That was when an "examination" by the Grand Inquisitor meant a very slow, painful death. Hopefully the sister's examination was more enlightened.

"Seven inches of condemnations and one of praise: is that the way to talk to the modern world?" -—John XXIII, After taking a ruler to a page of one of the haughty and pompous schemata, drafts prepared by the curia for approval of the Council Fathers. From John XXIII: Pope of the Century by Peter Hebblethwaite (p. 213). I found this quotation and explanation on the Conciliaria web site-- I never got to know John XXIII, but I miss him never the less.

I too would like to understand the church's teaching on banking 101, on how risk and return are somehow correlated, on competition, chaos and random events and so on. From my perspective, Jews have been wrongly vilified for being unscrupulous lenders.I am not a Jew, but when I found the some really fine pearl earrings for my wife, I paid for them in full & did not take a receipt--even though I would not pick them up for a week. PearlLady was amazed that I trusted a Jew -- yet what better security than having someone's word. My daughter, niece and wife have received many great items from the pearl lady. We will continue this discussion

I think the Catholic church has passed it's sell by date.

Thanks again, tempranillo, for your last 2! Thanks as well, KatieMurphy! You could add the following: Money Lending! I understand that the Jews made out like bandits, in Martin Luther's time, as Catholics were not allowed to be bankers! Consider what the world would be like, if borrowing $ and banking were outlawed!! The idea is to regulate banking, which is done. This will guard against loan sharks, and other unscrupulous practices!

Could the Vatican come to this? Kill People Who Don't Listen to Priests Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT)Kill Homosexuals "If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." (Leviticus 20:13 NAB) Death for Cursing Parents 1) If one curses his father or mother, his lamp will go out at the coming of darkness. (Proverbs 20:20 NAB) 2) All who curse their father or mother must be put to death. They are guilty of a capital offense. (Leviticus 20:9 NLT)Death for Adultery If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10 NLT)Death for Fornication A priest's daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. (Leviticus 21:9 NAB)Death to Followers of Other Religions Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. (Exodus 22:19 NAB)

da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo…give me chastity and continence……hm, not just yet. Augustine and an unnamed woman had a relationship that is said to have lasted 13 years. Getting rid of her was quite permissible as the two were not married.

Chruch teachings - getting nutter and nutter..................Now they say masturbation is evil and disordered. Maybe if they had encouraged their priests to do so, they would NOT be facing the well deserved near destruction of the church in Europe and its happening in America and latin America, due to the endless hidden molestation of their sex starved priests............And while Benedict is on a tear about the nuns / sisters doing what they are supposed to do -feed the poor, help the sick, and supporting life by eg a demonstation in support of medical care for all in the USA at DC last year, I'm now awaiting his adoption of the old Testament Leviticus nonsense, eg death for working on the sabbath, wearing clothes of differnt clots etc etc. Ancient nutter stuff that if implemented would wipe out the human race and leave the world to the Monkeys and lower animals.............Which might be good in that the primates wouldnt be saying hail Mary's to the vatican.

Thanks, tempranillo! I really should read up on St. Augustine, and learn about the woman who had his child. I was under the impression he was with many women, like an earlier "Don Juan"! I heard recently that, in his wild youth, he actually said, "Lord. grant me celibacy, but not just yet"!! Celibacy is not the answer, respect for the famale gender is! I do go to Sunday Mass, but can't accept Christ as the fundamentalists, or conservative Catholics do.

drones like mairint with their narrow views are destroying Christianity.They may see themselves as "good"Christians,in essence they are failed human beings.