CBCP: German author claims Pope's stand on condoms misunderstood

The German author of the Pope's controversial new book said Pope Benedict XVI's statement on the use of condoms was misunderstood. Journalist Peter Seewald expressed disappointment with media for allegedly twisting portions of the book to make a "misrepresentation" of the Pope's statements on condoms. "Our book ... speaks to the survival of [our] planet that is threatened; the Pope appeals to humanity - our world is in the process of collapse, and half the journalists are only interested in the issue of condoms," he was quoted as saying by the Zenit news agency. The Zenit news item was posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site on Wednesday. Future of the planet Seewald said what the Pope was talking about the future of the planet in the book-interview "Light of the World: The Pope, The Church and The Signs Of The Times." When he presented the book at the Vatican today, Seewald decried the "crisis of journalism" in the world today. He referred to the media flurry spinning since Saturday when L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's semi-official newspaper, published several excerpts of the interview. One of the texts released was from the end of the 10th chapter, when Seewald asked the Pontiff two questions on the fight against AIDS and the use of condoms. "Those statements have been taken out of context or falsely presented in headlines around the world," the Zenit news article said. Seewald: Emphasis on condoms is ridiculous Seewald insisted that the Pope was promoting a "humanization of sexuality" and posed the deeper question: "Does sexuality have something to do with love?" He said the excessive concentration on the issue of condoms is "ridiculous." He lamented that what the Pope proposes — that of transforming the world — is forgotten. Seewald affirmed that the Pope presented a wide-ranging panorama in the six hours of interviews conducted in July at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. However, he urged getting to what's important in a book such as discovering what the Pope does and says. According to the author, the gift of the book is being able to: "hear" the Pope's voice, see the way he interprets his pontificate, and "live" beside him in a very personal way. Small pope According to the author, Pope Benedict XVI might be placed in the category of the "small popes" when compared to the "great popes" like Pope John Paul II. However, Seewald does not hesitate to speak of him as a "giant" because of his ideas, authenticity and capacity for dialogue. The German author rediscovered his Catholic faith in a dialogue with Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in the 1990s. Seewald said he worked without any censorship from the Pope, who allowed him to write freely and only offered "clarifications." Seewald expressed his admiration for the Holy Father, with his "elevated point of view" as a "brilliant intellectual," and his "spiritual strength," as well as his "simplicity." – VVP, GMANews.TV