Hello Bob,   
      
    BB>> This has been batted around before, always based on   
    BB>> marriage is to yield children. That's why the Catholic's   
    BB>> have always outlawed birth control. (Yeah, tell me about   
    BB>> it.)   
      
   BK>Not so sure about "always". OTOH, there really hasn't been much   
   BK>real contraception more than something like 100 years ago.   
      
   When birth control is used in order to conceive, then it is   
   not contraception.  That is why so many Catholics loved the rhythm   
   method.  Women could tell their husbands they were obeying the   
   Catholic church when they accidentally got themselves pregnant ...   
      
    BB>> But if ya can't have children, for whatever reason, is the   
    BB>> marriage a sham?   
      
   BK>No, but requires a special dispensation.   
      
   Bob!  Listen up!  We have a CHILDREN'S COURT in Louisiana!  Most   
   Cajuns are Catholic.  And Catholic children are allowed to get   
   married in children's court, as long as they have or get permission   
   from their parents.  No priest need be consulted.  Children under   
   ten years old are known to have gotten married this way.  I do   
   not know how long those marriages have lasted, but it was legal.   
      
    BB>> Be interesting to see what the new Pope comes up with.   
    BB>> He's on record as being against abortion, gay marriage, and   
    BB>> birth control.  Nice to go back to the 1900's  :)   
      
   BK>Never left there.   
      
   Pope Francis met with the president of Argentina yesterday.   
   The two of them have never gotten along, their differences on   
   social issues being far too great.  But both of them did put   
   on smiles for the cameras.   
      
   BK>Abortion does meet a biblical standard. The rest is all a matter   
   BK>of MYOB.   
      
   Most people, whether they are liberal or conservative, Catholic or   
   non-Catholic, Christian or non-Christian, are not in favor of   
   abortion on demand.  However, that same majority also views abortion   
   as being an issue between doctor and patient.  Who are we to judge   
   what is right and wrong, especially when a person's life may be at   
   stake?   
      
   I am not going to tell a woman that she is going to hell because   
   she chooses (or has chosen) to have an abortion.  I am not God, nor   
   do I pretend to be.  The Church can excommunicate a woman for having   
   an abortion, but the Church cannot excommunicate her from God.   
      
   BK> .. McGod's - Have it my way or go to Hell. - Sue Armstrong   
      
   Bill O'Reilly (a Catholic) divorced his wife (a Catholic), and   
   is seeking to get her booted out of the Catholic Church.  Do you   
   think he will get his way?  Remember - money talks, people listen.   
      
   --Lee   
      
   --- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb   
    * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)