Listening
exercise
BBC:
Vatican 'may relax condoms rule'
Video:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ifs_news/hi/newsid_4930000/newsid_4939000/nb_rm_4939080.stm
Local
audio file
| pater
et filius... Pope Benedict Easter services to condemn erosion Roman Catholic family values just a few days later for there to be signs of major revision in a fundamental area of teaching strict ban on contraception controversial issue to divide Catholics senior cardinal Vatican document to review policy on to affect HIV sexually-transmitted infections the Church bitterly criticized to prevent African countries stricken by AIDS Vatican officials to argue abstinence | foolproof a guard against citing Uganda as to have some success to practice a policy Catholic groups practical overwhelming evidence Benedict XVI in spite of conservative reputation bishops cardinals "people on the ground" Pope Paul to set out a policy current to undermine sexual intercourse God-given to create life to reinforce teaching even as he visited dreadful toll to be routinely ignored to rethink one's intention in using to prevent disease and death excusable creation of new life Robert Pigott |
Listening comprehension questions:
1. a. What language is this in: pater et
filius...? b. What does it mean? c.
Why is this language being used?
2. According
to this video report, what change seems imminent in Roman Catholic policy?
3. a. How long has the current rule been in
effect? b. Under which papacy was it first
instituted?
4. What was the reason for
the ban?
5. What have been some of the
consequences of the ban?
6. Use the Internet
to find out a. about how many Catholics there
are worldwide; b. which ten countries have
the largest numbers of Roman Catholics.
7.
Why does the Catholic church now seem willing to reconsider the current policy?
8. What are your thoughts on how the Catholic
church has handled this issue?