In the wake of excerpted remarks from a forthcoming book length interview with Pope Benedict, there are headlines everywhere this week on how the Vatican is in the midst of a “stunning turnaround” on contraception. The degree of media misrepresentation on this story has been quite stunning. An AP story trumpeted the new “hope” for Catholics, but I can only presume they mean cafeteria Catholites.
But as it turns out, the Church’s stance has not changed (nor should it, nor can it). I wanted to post a slew of articles that help clarify what is going on.
Janet Smith on what the Pope really said. George Weigel offers a very useful clarification. Here is a nice article on the remarks that makes a fun comparison with Darth Vader’s conversion. A nice overview of the issue here and here. The Vatican clarifies the issue here.