[Buddha-l] This pope

[Stephen Hodge]

Joanna Kirk wrote:
> condoms must be discouraged because they are a means of birth control 
> (sinful)
I recently read that there are some in the Vatican who see a need to 
re-examine this problem in the light of recent findings in embryo research, 
which also have theological implications for early abortion as with the 
"morning-after pill"..
The Catholic view is that each individual is created as an unique and 
*indivisible* soul.  However, a problem arises in the cases of twins, 
triplets etc -- in the case of monozygotic twins etc, the division into more 
than one individual only occurs at around 14 days.  This implies that until 
they become distinct individuals each with their individual souls at that 
stage, the single fertilized ovum cannot have a soul and therefore is not 
human.  There is also the inherent contradiction that the souls of some 
individuals are present from the moment of conception while for others not 
until 14 days has elapsed.   An interesting condundrum -- which also has 
implications for Buddhists believing in rebirth, but perhaps less 
intractably so.

Best wishes,
Stephen Hodge