Dave Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/17/pope-africa-condoms-aids Pope claims condoms could make African Aids crisis worse Pontiff's remarks on first visit to continent outrage health agencies trying to halt spread of HIV and Aids The Pope today reignited the controversy over the Catholic church's stance on condom use as he made his first trip to Africa. The pontiff said condoms were not the answer to the continent's fight against HIV and Aids and could make the problem worse. Benedict XVI made his comments as he flew to Cameroon for the first leg of a six-day trip that will also see him travelling to Angola. The timing of his remarks outraged health agencies trying to halt the spread of HIV and Aids in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 22 million people are infected. The Roman Catholic church encourages sexual abstinence and fidelity to prevent the disease from spreading, but it is a policy that has divided some clergy working with Aids patients. The pontiff, speaking to journalists on his flight, said the condition was "a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems". Rebecca Hodes, of the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa, said that if the Pope was serious about preventing new HIV infections he would focus on promoting wider access to condoms and spreading information about how best to use them. Hodes, the director of policy, communication and research for the campaign group, added: "Instead, his opposition to condoms conveys that religious dogma is more important to him than the lives of Africans." It is not the first time the Pope has made public remarks on the HIV/Aids outbreak ravaging the continent. Shortly after becoming pontiff in 2005, he told senior Catholic clergy from Africa that, while the disease was a "cruel epidemic", it could not be cured through using condoms. Addressing bishops from South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Lesotho who had travelled to the Vatican for papal audience, he said: "The traditional teaching of the church has proven to be the only failsafe way to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids." He also warned them that African life was under threat from a number of factors, including condoms. "It is of great concern that the fabric of African life, its very source of hope and stability, is threatened by divorce, abortion, prostitution, human trafficking and a contraception mentality," he added. More than two-thirds – 67% – of the global total of 32.9 million people with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa. Three-quarters of all Aids deaths in 2007 happened there. Africa is the fastest-growing region for the Roman Catholic church, which competes with Islam and evangelical churches. The Pope also said today that he intended to make an appeal for "international solidarity" for Africa in the face of the global economic downturn. He said that, while the church did not propose specific economic solutions, it could give "spiritual and moral" suggestions. Describing the current crisis as the consequence of "a deficit of ethics in economic structures", he added: "It is here that the church can make a contribution." Benedict dismissed claims that he was facing increasing opposition and isolation within the church, particularly after an outreach to ultra-conservatives led to him lifting the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop. "The myth of my solitude makes me laugh," he said, adding that he could count on the network of friends and aides he saw every day. In a letter to Catholic bishops, released last week, he made an unusual public acknowledgment of Vatican mistakes over the rehabilitation of Bishop Richard Williamson. While acknowledging that errors had been made in handling the affair, Benedict said he was saddened that he was criticised "with open hostility" even by those who "should have known better". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.R. Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Hark at the Pope getting all Scientific. His lot reckon someone made the world in a week and women from a man's rib. Therefore I deem their theories null and void. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueStar Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Uh-huh, I believe the Catholic Churches findings on the effectiveness of condoms as much as I believe PETAs findings on the health dangers of rump steak. At least he doesn't go quite as far as this guy. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7014335.stm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haz Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 To be fair to Benny the Poop he is just issuing Catholic dogma otherwise he'd be out of a job. Nevertheless, he is as guilty of genocide with this (and he could prevent it) than anything else. He's killed more people than when he was in the Nazi party. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 They should make a sweet-and-sour sauce flavour one, so they can suck on a bloke's cock whilst eating their rice? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.R. Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 They should make a sweet-and-sour sauce flavour one, so they can suck on a bloke's cock whilst eating their rice? Take it to Dragons' Den. "Would you like to Chow Mein?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 They should make a sweet-and-sour sauce flavour one, so they can suck on a bloke's cock whilst eating their rice? Take it to Dragons' Den. "Would you like to Chow Mein?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Classic the Pope Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crumpy Gunt Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Condoms will not only stop the spread of AIDS but will also stop extremely stupid Africans from having more children than they could ever hope to feed. Thus helping ease the African continents two main problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 think some people are missing the point here, any stick for a beating though, eh? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
juniatmoko Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 he got a point actually Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 he got a point actually Exactly, the headlines of this story of have seen in the papaers and online have been overly sensationalized. Obviously, widespread condom availability would curb one of the immediate issues, but the Pope's comments speak to a deeper issue. (Though I disagree with his hard line stance). One only needs to look to the US capital, Washington DC (Which has a higher AIDS rate than Nigeria and many other African nations), to see that there are deeper issues than whether or not folks can afford contraception. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 he got a point actually Exactly, the headlines of this story of have seen in the papaers and online have been overly sensationalized. Obviously, widespread condom availability would curb one of the immediate issues, but the Pope's comments speak to a deeper issue. (Though I disagree with his hard line stance). One only needs to look to the US capital, Washington DC (Which has a higher AIDS rate than Nigeria and many other African nations), to see that there are deeper issues than whether or not folks can afford contraception. the issue isn't wether folk can afford condoms but if their church (his church) will allow them to use them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 he got a point actually Exactly, the headlines of this story of have seen in the papaers and online have been overly sensationalized. Obviously, widespread condom availability would curb one of the immediate issues, but the Pope's comments speak to a deeper issue. (Though I disagree with his hard line stance). One only needs to look to the US capital, Washington DC (Which has a higher AIDS rate than Nigeria and many other African nations), to see that there are deeper issues than whether or not folks can afford contraception. the issue isn't wether folk can afford condoms but if their church (his church) will allow them to use them. The majority of Africa is not Catholic first off, and I can tell you that there are many people that will find it hard to budget for condoms when they can hardly afford the clothes on their backs. Still, condom use has already experienced a significant increase in most African nations. Although I will say there is another problem that condoms in many places are only considered protection against pregnancy, which can be a problem as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 he got a point actually Exactly, the headlines of this story of have seen in the papaers and online have been overly sensationalized. Obviously, widespread condom availability would curb one of the immediate issues, but the Pope's comments speak to a deeper issue. (Though I disagree with his hard line stance). One only needs to look to the US capital, Washington DC (Which has a higher AIDS rate than Nigeria and many other African nations), to see that there are deeper issues than whether or not folks can afford contraception. the issue isn't wether folk can afford condoms but if their church (his church) will allow them to use them. The majority of Africa is not Catholic first off, and I can tell you that there are many people that will find it hard to budget for condoms when they can hardly afford the clothes on their backs. Still, condom use has already experienced a significant increase in most African nations. so what is the deeper issue that the popes comments speak to ? it can't be the finance of it as he'd be quite happy that some can't afford them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 he got a point actually Exactly, the headlines of this story of have seen in the papaers and online have been overly sensationalized. Obviously, widespread condom availability would curb one of the immediate issues, but the Pope's comments speak to a deeper issue. (Though I disagree with his hard line stance). One only needs to look to the US capital, Washington DC (Which has a higher AIDS rate than Nigeria and many other African nations), to see that there are deeper issues than whether or not folks can afford contraception. the issue isn't wether folk can afford condoms but if their church (his church) will allow them to use them. The majority of Africa is not Catholic first off, and I can tell you that there are many people that will find it hard to budget for condoms when they can hardly afford the clothes on their backs. Still, condom use has already experienced a significant increase in most African nations. so what is the deeper issue that the popes comments speak to ? it can't be the finance of it as he'd be quite happy that some can't afford them. Prostitution, Casual sex, change of attitudes and the general break down of African as well as Christian values in these areas. Alot has changed in the society and the AIDS virus has come in during a time in which sexual attitudes and behavior have greatly changed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocker Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Condoms will not only stop the spread of AIDS but will also stop extremely stupid Africans from having more children than they could ever hope to feed. Thus helping ease the African continents two main problems. ...and getting rid of those fucking awful red nose days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 They should make a sweet-and-sour sauce flavour one, so they can suck on a bloke's cock whilst eating their rice? My missus is convinced they only do stilton flavour. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 To be fair to Benny the Poop he is just issuing Catholic dogma otherwise he'd be out of a job. Nevertheless, he is as guilty of genocide with this (and he could prevent it) than anything else. He's killed more people than when he was in the Nazi party. Great double point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueStar Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 think some people are missing the point here, any stick for a beating though, eh? I know what his point is and I think it's pants-on-head retarded. It's the same logic as "Ooh, don't give teenagers access to condoms or contraception or sex education because they might have sex!" So you teach abstinence instead and they don't have sex, easy! Just like Bristol Palin. It's not that I don't get the point, it's that I think his point is fucking stupid. Firstly he's saying that condoms aren't a magical solution which is going to immediately cure the African AIDS crisis, as if anyone has fucking said that. Secondly he's going down that road of "Condoms will encourage people to have sex, condoms aren't completely 100% infallible against AIDS, ergo more condoms = more AIDS." Does anybody genuinely think that number of people infected by unprotected sex would be smaller than the number of people infected due to condom failure? The guy is not dealing with reality and he's also making the usual assumption that only casual and extra marital sex transmits AIDS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themanupstairs Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 They should make a sweet-and-sour sauce flavour one, so they can suck on a bloke's cock whilst eating their rice? Take it to Dragons' Den. "Would you like to Chow Mein?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
juniatmoko Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 he got a point actually Exactly, the headlines of this story of have seen in the papaers and online have been overly sensationalized. Obviously, widespread condom availability would curb one of the immediate issues, but the Pope's comments speak to a deeper issue. (Though I disagree with his hard line stance). One only needs to look to the US capital, Washington DC (Which has a higher AIDS rate than Nigeria and many other African nations), to see that there are deeper issues than whether or not folks can afford contraception. the issue isn't wether folk can afford condoms but if their church (his church) will allow them to use them. The majority of Africa is not Catholic first off, and I can tell you that there are many people that will find it hard to budget for condoms when they can hardly afford the clothes on their backs. Still, condom use has already experienced a significant increase in most African nations. so what is the deeper issue that the popes comments speak to ? it can't be the finance of it as he'd be quite happy that some can't afford them. Prostitution, Casual sex, change of attitudes and the general break down of African as well as Christian values in these areas. Alot has changed in the society and the AIDS virus has come in during a time in which sexual attitudes and behavior have greatly changed. nail on the head... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Crumpy is spot on btw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Out of curiousity I've just looked up some of these issues on some catholic forums. There's a debate going on about whether female masturbation is a sin or not because no 'seed' is wasted. :lol: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I remember laughing when an interview with a senior cardinal revealed that "although, it is not considered wrong to release the "glue of sin" whilst sleeping, as the human brain cannot legislate for what happens" or something. Glue of sin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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