Pope Francis recently said compared to the dreaded Zika virus, the use of contraceptives is the lesser of two evils. Many Catholic theologians did not agree with his belief, and even said the pope made a mistake in that regard.
His own spokesperson Fr. Federico Lombardi even tried to interpret Pope Francis' statements in such a way that would be deemed acceptable by Catholic leaders. "The contraceptive or condom, in particular cases of emergency or gravity, could be the object of discernment in a serious case of conscience," he said.
Bishop Athanasius Schneider, the auxiliary bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan, is one of the church leaders who disagreed with the pope's statements regarding contraceptives. He maintained that the use of contraception is "intrinsically evil," and is not supported by the Catholic Church.
"The teaching of the Church on the intrinsic immorality of contraception is unchangeable and no pope can change this teaching, because the Church through the Holy Spirit taught this truth always and everywhere in the same sense and in the same signification," he told Life Site News.
When asked how the faithful should respond to Pope Francis' statements, Schneider answered: "The faithful should react in the same way as did all the saint confessors of the faith in all times and as did our forefathers according to the words which the Holy Spirit spoke through the mouth of the holy Apostles: 'Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints' (Jude 3)."
Schneider added that Catholics should be wary "even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you."
He then quoted Galatians 1:9-10: "As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
