Beyond Forgetting's Flickr photostream/Creative Commons
Pope Benedict XVI denounced the role of condoms in the fight against AIDS yesterday en route to his first trip to Africa. The pontiff told reporters on his plane during a flight to Cameroon that the AIDS virus “is a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, and that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems.” The Roman Catholic Church, which the Pope heads, has been adamantly opposed to almost all forms of birth control, regardless of the consequences, practically since its inception nearly 2,000 years ago.
For a religious figure with as much sway as the Pope to disparage one of the only effective and economically viable methods of preventing the AIDS virus, to kick off a trip to Africa no less, is beyond irresponsible. I was raised Catholic and have experienced enough of the religion to know there are many good people in the clergy of the church with good intentions. But these sorts of weird, wholly outdated stances on sexual and reproductive issues, which ignore the hard facts of the world around us, have driven not only myself, but an entire generation of Catholics in the developed world away from the church. The growth areas of the Catholic Church are now in the developing world, where poorer people, without access to education, desperately need the informed guidance on issues of birth control and AIDS prevention that the Catholic church is failing to provide.
You can takepart in helping expand education on AIDS prevention and birth control around the world by supporting Planned Parenthood International.
LINKS:
The Times (UK): Pope says condoms are not the solution to AIDS - they make it worse
Daily Telegraph: Pope Benedict XVI: Condoms make AIDS crisis worse
CATEGORIES: Global Health
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- Worldchanging
Are you sure they are effective against AIDS? I know they don’t work too well as birth control. They are usually made from synthetic latex, an oil product and will not be safe for many women.
Plus they are not reusable or recyclable. Where are you going to dispose of them? In landfills?
As much as I disagree with what the Pope stands for, he is right on this one.
I have my own ideas about birth control. It starts off by teaching boys and girls the difference between lust and love.
Luck of the Irish to you!
FYI: AIDS was started by the testing of an oral polio vaccine given in the Belgium Congo between 1957 and 1959. Of course it has been denied by powerful medical men but what do they know about real life.
Google origin of aids.
Read the River by Edward Hooper.
It is a tragic story that must be told.
The Source of the River
Inspired by The River by Mr. Edward Hooper
Many years of righteous research and wondrous words!
The river of tears from Africa, must be followed to its source.
Medical knowledge will be gained. Then we can use full force,
To fight AIDS, which started in the Congo. We know man is ambitious.
Polio had struck his kids, his hero. Here drink the monkey. It is delicious.
Kids get to test vaccinations. Can such sadness be resolved?
How could man foresee it! A new killer has evolved!
The source of the river has got to be explored. It is academic!
Vaccines in animal parts may have started an avoidable pandemic.
Ed Hooper took up the quest for truth. After careful thought, I agree.
If we do not believe that truth is worth striving for, we will cease to be.
Love Lora Bruncke
The World Health Organization says condoms reduce the risk of HIV infection by 90%.
Thanks.