Where have these people been?

Vatican urged to reopen debate on birth control

PARIS (Reuters) - Encouraged by Pope Benedict's encyclical on love, a Roman Catholic bishop and a group of Christian intellectuals in France are urging the Vatican to reopen the debate on its ban on artificial birth control.

Bishop Francis Deniau told the Catholic magazine Le Pelerin this week that Benedict's first encyclical "Deus Caritas Est" (God is Love), which was widely praised for the positive way it spoke about sexual love, was a hopeful sign for possible change.

If this bishop is being quoted correctly and in context, then this is just another sign of the problems we face. This is more than dissent - this is heresy, pure and simple. Of course, ignoring the constant teaching of the Church, he continues:

Deniau, bishop of Nevers in eastern France, noted that a papal commission had advised in 1966 to allow it, but Pope Paul ignored their recommendation after consulting several cardinals, including the future Pope John Paul.

"The analyses made by the first commission in 1966, which did not condemn contraception, are worth being reviewed and debated," Deniau said. He said many Catholics found they could not follow the "rhythm method" of family planning.

"It's important that these things are not seen in a rigid fashion," he said.

The Holy Father, Pope Paul VI, prophetically stated what would happen to all of society if contraception was allowed and embraced. Perhaps the good bishop should re-read Humanae Vitae with an open mind.

Nor are the considerations of heretics and apostates worthy of further review or debate. The debate is closed! It is a theological impossibility for the Church's teaching forbidding artificial contraception to change.

Lest we forget, the grave sinfulness of contraception is taught infallibly by the Church's ordinary universal teaching authority. Those who defend contraception forfeit any claim to being professed Catholics. Consequently, those who persist in their defense of contraception, deprive themselves of the divine graces which are reserved to bona fide members of the Roman Catholic Church. (Source)

Any bishop or any priest who teaches contrary to what the Church professes cares not a whit for the salvation of the souls entrusted to him. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing, an agent of the devil himself. We should pray for his conversion and repentance.

There are some who willingly choose to follow Christ and conform their wills to His will. And there are many who choose to reject Him and His Church. Spare us, O Lord!

Link to article.