As if we need more evidence that Conservatives in our country have lost their minds, they're now arguing with the Pope about his already severely antiquated and ridiculous views on condom use and birth control.

The Pope recently told a German media outlet it was cool for male prostitutes to use condoms, then later added transsexuals and women to the list, and now says everyone can use them to prevent HIV and AIDS.

And, this, for some reason, has American Conservatives in a tizzy. Because, you know, our country's sons and daughters, who need more sex education, should try to preserve their virginity and prevent pregnancy and STDs via anal sex instead, a move that could make them more susceptible to HIV and AIDS. (Not that there's anything wrong with anal sex, but there is something wrong with being so misinformed about sex that a person believes it's an alternative to birth control and that it's a cherry life preserver.)

Suggesting sexually active people under any label or at any age shouldn't practice safe sex is begging for a big fucking problem. Pun intended. So, folks, don't listen to the Pope or the Cons: Protect yourselves. Use condoms. We don't need to bolster the world's population, nor do we need legions of adults with sexually transmitted diseases.

Birth control is a good thing, allowing religious or political groups to control your lives is not. What freaks the Cons and Catholics out is this: Birth control empowers women to have more control over their bodies and their destinies, and condoms help prevent diseases which often hit the world's minorities and poorer segments hardest.

In fact, in the Vatican's PR cleanup frenzy, they're making sure to repeatedly state that the Catholic church still bans contraception, like condoms, when used as birth control.

I repeat: Protect yourselves, use condoms. Here's one reason why you should:

Here's another: What if your partner isn't as faithful as they should be?

Rhiannon "Rhi" Bowman is an independent journalist who contributes snarky commentary on Creative Loafing's CLog blog four days a week in addition to writing for several other local media organizations. To learn more, click the links or follow Rhi on Twitter.

Birth control is a good thing, allowing religious or political groups to control your lives is not. What freaks the Cons and Catholics out is this: Birth control empowers women to have more control over their bodies and their destinies, and condoms help prevent diseases which often hit the world's minorities and poorer segments hardest.

In fact, in the Vatican's PR cleanup frenzy, they're making sure to repeatedly state that the Catholic church still bans contraception, like condoms, when used as birth control.

I repeat: Protect yourselves, use condoms. Here's one reason why you should:

Here's another: What if your partner isn't as faithful as they should be?

Rhiannon "Rhi" Bowman is an independent journalist who contributes snarky commentary on Creative Loafing's CLog blog four days a week in addition to writing for several other local media organizations. To learn more, click the links or follow Rhi on Twitter.