Wednesday, January 16, 2008 (New Delhi)

Contradicting the popular belief that methods to control child birth are unlawful in Islam, a leading Islamic seminary has issued a fatwa allowing use of contraceptives by Muslims to keep a gap between two children.

''Yes, it is allowable to temporarily use contraceptives,'' says a recent fatwa by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband in response to a query whether one can use contraception to avoid the next child.

Clerics at Uloom's Darul ifta, the body which issues fatwas, says contraceptives are permissible so that ''the children are properly nourished''.

However, the Islamic body doesn't say anything about the permanent methods of contraceptions like vasectomy or tubectomy.

Supporting the Deoband's fatwa, prominent Muslim body Jamia-Ulema-e-Hind's spokesman Abdul Hameed Nomani, also an Islamic scholar, says: ''Such a method can be adopted. It is permissible.''

Citing a recent government report, he said more than 40 per cent Indian Muslims use contraceptives.

However, Nomani termed permanent contraception as ''unlawful'' (haram) and against Islamic law.

Several Muslim nations like Turkey and Iran encourage their citizen to adopt contraceptives, a move to check the growing population in those countries.

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWE.../2008%204:51:00%20PM

Pope, Joseph Ratzinger, Known for Opposition to Contraception, Including Condoms to Prevent HIV
Condoms
The new pope has "given no indication that he intends to soften -- even "one iota" -- the Vatican's ban on the use of contraception, despite the World Health Organization's stance that condom use is the most effective means of stopping the spread of HIV in Africa, AFP/Channel News Asia reports.

Rather than worring about contraceptives, these holy men shoud be more concerned about the possibility of babies of sperm doners intermarring. For example lets say two women become pregnant from one doner's sample their children meet and then get married. What then?

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For example lets say two women become pregnant from one doner's sample their children meet and then get married. What then?

The retarded pool will increase.

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Originally posted by Terry Ishmael:
Pope, Joseph Ratzinger, Known for Opposition to Contraception, Including Condoms to Prevent HIV
Condoms
The new pope has "given no indication that he intends to soften -- even "one iota" -- the Vatican's ban on the use of contraception, despite the World Health Organization's stance that condom use is the most effective means of stopping the spread of HIV in Africa, AFP/Channel News Asia reports.

I never knew the Pope can issue a fatwa. Mind you, with all the troubles the large African islamic societies are suffering under I wouldn't have expected the Pope to lift his fatwa...

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Originally posted by Mr.T:
I never knew the Pope can issue a fatwa. Mind you, with all the troubles the large African islamic societies are suffering under I wouldn't have expected the Pope to lift his fatwa...

The Pope issues fatwahs all the time. Who do you think is upholdong the abortion ban on Catholics?