But the Church expects people to be perfect, and isn’t particularly concerned about minimizing harm in the case that you break the rules. Picture this conversation:
“Don’t have sex before marriage, and don’t use condoms”
“Okay, no sex before marriage. But what if I do, then should I use a condom?”
“What do you mean, what if I do? Don’t do it at all. Have zero sex before marriage. Also, don’t use condoms. It’s simple.”
“Oh, okay. So avoid having sex before marriage, and if I do have sex before marriage, then I shouldn’t use a condom.”
...
The sorts of rules you cite make sense when you’re trying to minimize physical harms. When your job is protecting the immortal souls of people, that’s a secondary concern at best.
“Don’t do something that damns your immortal soul to an eternity of torment. But if you do, make sure you wear a sweater” makes about as much sense in this context.
But the Church expects people to be perfect, and isn’t particularly concerned about minimizing harm in the case that you break the rules. Picture this conversation:
“Don’t have sex before marriage, and don’t use condoms”
“Okay, no sex before marriage. But what if I do, then should I use a condom?”
“What do you mean, what if I do? Don’t do it at all. Have zero sex before marriage. Also, don’t use condoms. It’s simple.”
“Oh, okay. So avoid having sex before marriage, and if I do have sex before marriage, then I shouldn’t use a condom.”
...
The sorts of rules you cite make sense when you’re trying to minimize physical harms. When your job is protecting the immortal souls of people, that’s a secondary concern at best.
“Don’t do something that damns your immortal soul to an eternity of torment. But if you do, make sure you wear a sweater” makes about as much sense in this context.