The latest “wisdom” from Doctor/Pope Benedict XVI. The pope argues that HIV/AIDS is,
“a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem.”
He claims the solution lay in a,
“spiritual and human awakening” and “friendship for those who suffer”.
Just when I thought the Pope was going to lay low for a while, he decided to publicly put his foot in his mouth. Condoms are not the ultimate solution to the problem. But they are a critical to reduce the impact of the virus in Africa. Medical research has proven its highly effective results in preventing HIV transmission if used correctly and consistently.
To stop the evil spread of condom use, the Catholic hierarchy has lobbied governments against the inclusion of funding for condoms in development aid programs. The result is to deny the poorest people of the poorest nations the ability to protect themselves by using condoms.
The Catholic Church is free to preach moral behavior. But this latest statement is extremely irresponsible and dangerous. God is obviously not planning to stop the AIDS epidemic, so it’s time African people are given the tools and education they need to be safe. Abstinence hasn’t prevented Catholic priests from engaging in deviant sexual behavior. Why would it work for the people of Africa?
Tags: Abstinence, Africa, AIDS, Condoms, HIV, Pope Benedict
March 18, 2009 at 3:21 pm |
Well, I think I actually understand his logic in saying that condoms might increase the spread of HIV/AIDS. In his world, offering condoms is condoning sex, and even though condoms prevent transmission of diseases, they don’t offer 100% protection. They break, or slip off, or you manage to squirt around it somehow
Whatever the reason, he has a point in stating that not having sex at all is technically safer than having sex with a condom. The real evil is instead that he knows full well that people won’t stop having sex without the condoms. They don’t care about the pope, they want to have sex whatever he says. If they’re catholic at all, none of them are that catholic.
The saddest thing is not that the pope is spreading lies and misinformation intentionally, or that Africans are dying because of it. What’s insane is that all around the world, there are people who are stupid enough to agree with him! They are either stupid enough, or brainwashed so thoroughly, that they can’t see the obvious, glaring gap in the pope’s logic. What is wrong with the human race that we let people, encourage them even, to be so ignorant? I just can’t wrap my head around that.
March 18, 2009 at 3:28 pm |
My feeling exactly. Catholics ignore the Pope all the time, but he does have impact on the church. But what is most disturbing is the lobbying the Catholic church does against the inclusion of funding for condoms in development aid programs. Abstinence by force will never work.
March 18, 2009 at 4:21 pm |
In some ways I am happy to see the Catholic Church so out of touch with reality – maybe that will hasten its complete irrelevance in this world.
March 29, 2009 at 2:35 am |
Oh boy, try keep up here:
Fact: A pharmaceutical test showed a 50% failure rate of condoms used by monogamous couples every single time they have sex!
Fact: The window period for pregnancy is a specific 5 days a month = 60 days a year. It has to do with ovulation.
Fact: The Aids virus is 6000 times smaller than a sperm! So how much increase is there in the failure rate?
Fact: You can get Aids every time you have sex!!!!!!!
Do the math!
IF you want verification of these facts – use Google!
March 29, 2009 at 7:30 am |
Fact: You can get Aids every time you have sex.
That is exactly why preaching abstinence in Africa is irresponsible. People will have sex. Condoms are not perfect, but certainly better than completely unprotected sex.
March 30, 2009 at 1:10 am |
I fail to get the logic of “preaching abstinence is irresponsible” – abstinence is the best way, just because people cannot control themselves and, like animals, they just respond to their senses/urges – surely we should be dealing with that issue and not just trying to curtail the results of that!
March 30, 2009 at 8:15 am |
The Pope can can preach abstinence, but it is irresponsible to use it as a substitution for condoms. The Catholic church preaches abstinence in the United States, but you can still buy condoms at the corner gas station.
The Catholic Church is not god. Give these people free will to make a choice.
April 3, 2009 at 3:15 am |
The only thing that would be more funny than the popes claim here is if he would go roller blade into an AIDS tree!