Craig is a seasoned debater, and his years of experience have taught him not only to identify the red herrings in his opponents' arguments but also to get away with a few dishonest tricks of his own.
"If God does not exist, objective moral values do not exist," says an apologist. This will soon be followed by the contention that objective moral values do exist, leading to the inevitable conclusion that, well, God exists.
"It has been said that a couple who use the infertile period have intercourse
at that time precisely to prevent the beginning of a new life. Their positive
means are the use of a thermometer and the charting of temperatures. But this
objection is nugatory."
It's not everyday that a Catholic priest impresses me with his pragmatism and honesty when speaking about controversial issues like contraception and especially with his guts in defining the limits of the moral authority of his superiors, the bishops. I am talking about Fr. Ranhilio "Rannie" C. Aquino.
The answer ultimately lies in what it means to be a Catholic. As a noun, Catholic is defined as "a member of the Catholic Church, especially a Roman Catholic." And what does it mean to be a member of such church? Does it require one to acknowledge the infallibility of the Church's teachings including Humanae Vitae, which maintains that sex must always be kept open to procreatio
"...if we cannot come up with any such argument (that will be convincing on the unacceptability of artificial contraception), then let us humbly admit that our opposition is sectarian in nature and credal in origin. Then we will also realize what we can and cannot rightfully demand of the State."