***I guess they are allowing sex before marriage.***
No, Brooke, they are not. Never have, never will. Interestingly, that is one of the arguments against birth control. That if a person uses it, they will feel like it's okay to engage in immoral behavior b/c there won't be a consequence to it.
As an interesting side note, it would be worthy to mention that ALL churches, not just the RCC, were against contraception until the 1930's.
***I hate to be grim but maybe the ratio of African Catholics dieing of aids was outnumbering the number of added births in areas without condoms.***
Statements like this are just plain inflammatory. They serve no other purpose than to try to bolster a lacking argument. Not to mention the fact that the CC has always been about life, not death.
***In this way they seem to contradict their earlier research which supposedly showed that condoms do not protect you from HIV.***
Again, I'd like to know a source.
***The ban is one example of religious hypocrisy, anyway. 90% of Polish, Irish or Italian catholics don't give a damn about this doctrine.***
Just because someone doesn't practice what they are taught, doesn't mean the RCC is hypocritical. It means that the decision rests on the individual and their conscience. I myself used contraception at one point in my life because I didn't know why the RCC was against it. I did things that were not right and when I researched why the RCC felt the way it did (it was not about numbers), I changed MY way of thinking. So, if anyone was a hypocrit, it would've been me. The RCC has been steadfast in her belief from the beginning. If you want to look at this way, I'm sure it's difficult for the Church to be unwavering in her beliefs in a culture/time that bashes somebody for sticking with it. She has not bent to peer pressure even if others have.
Having said that, the RCC is concerned about the spread of HIV/AIDS. I think many would agree that the best way to prevent the spread sexually, is to not engage in immoral behaviors in the first place. I can't speak for the RCC about a marriage situation. I'd be happy to research it if you'd like.
***Oh man, and the condom ban was their best source of new members***
Sorry, but for lack of a better way to say it, this is just an ignorant statement. I know several couples that are not Catholic that don't believe in contraception, that have several kids. Matter of fact, one is due with number seven in Nov. I also know several people that do use contraception that have several kids. They do not have their children for the sake of numbers, they have them for the sake of love.