So, as you might have heard, using contraceptives significantly reduces your exposure to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The trick is, especially in Africa, where the virus has destroyed entire communities, educating people about condom use and convincing people that it’s not just smart to use condoms, it’s the moral thing to do. Enter Pope Benedict XVI, whose been silent on the issue of condom use. And what does he say? “You can’t resolve it with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, it increases the problem.” And the infallible word of God can’t be wrong, right?
The AP has more on the Pope’s trip to Cameroon this week and the fun things he said about HIV:
“The pope said that a responsible and moral attitude toward sex would help fight the disease.
About 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV, according to UNAIDS. In 2007, three-quarters of all AIDS deaths worldwide were there, as well as two-thirds of all people living with HIV.
Rebecca Hodes with the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa said if the pope is serious about preventing new HIV infections, he will focus on promoting wide access to condoms and spreading information on how best to use them.
“Instead, his opposition to condoms conveys that religious dogma is more important to him than the lives of Africans,” said Hodes, director of policy, communication and research for the action campaign.
While she said the pope is correct that condoms are not the sole solution to Africa’s AIDS epidemic, she said they are one of the very few HIV prevention mechanisms proven to work.
Even some priests and nuns working with those living with HIV/AIDS question the church’s opposition to condoms amid the pandemic ravaging Africa.
The Roman Catholic Church rejects the use of condoms as part of its overall teaching against artificial contraception.”
Maybe it’s time to start supplementing those “Silence=Death” posters with some “Dogma=Death” ones as well.
Latebrosus
But what is the Pope’s logic (such as it may be) behind his claim? I would really like to know just why he thinks distributing condoms contributes to the spread of AIDS precisely because it’s such a bizarre conclusion!
strumpetwindsock
After his comments about protestantism and the other orthodox churches this is hardly a surprise. Too bad. I would have thought as a straight, celibate man he would have an insightful and relevant perspective on this issue.
Would he rather see people resort to this ineffective solution?
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/264259
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/4/5/latest/16766Menaccuse&sec=latest
I can only hope that his statement has no effect whatsoever on real efforts to deal with the pandemic.
osocubano
Another giant step toward his secret goal of destroying the Catholic Church…
mark Segal
You expect morals from the leader of the largest child molester organization in the world?
bobito
@osocubano: I’ve long suspected that the ultimate destruction of the Catholic Church was his secret goal. It would be a good thing, I only wish it weren’t taking so damn long – and I hate the fact that so many people will have to die in such a horrible way before this institution of inhumanity is rendered null and void.
On the other hand, I agree with His Assholiness that “a responsible and moral attitude toward sex would help fight the disease”. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church’s attitude toward sex is neither responsible nor moral.
DairyQueen
This pope is so out of touch with the real world. Anyone who follows this fool teaching and gives money to this cult is a useless sheep. I have zero respect for anyone who attends this cult. I have even loss a lot of respect to my liberal parent who still go every Sunday to listen to this bullshit
andy_d
Razi the nazi strikes again!
Bob
The Pope is only infallible when he speaks from the seat of St. Peter, which no Pope has done since the early 1960s. Otherwise he’s just like every other religious leader. Ignore him when he says stupid shit like every Catholic with a brain does.
getreal
As a christian this guy embarrasses me he is a moron and he is creepy looking. Pope John Paul was such a sweet looking old man.
strumpetwindsock
@Bob:
Sounds like you’re arguing from the right wing of the church which didn’t recognize JPII. You are obviously a lot more familiar with it than I am, but aren’t you at least pleased that Benedict is moving the church in your direction?
In my opinion, those boys didn’t have the greatest track record before 1960, either.
You don’t even have to go back as far as the Borgias to find actions that weren’t exactly divinely-inspired.
HYHYBT
@Latebrosus: I assume it’s the old abstinence-only argument: condoms make it less likely that you’ll catch something when you have sex, so if they’re available people will have more sex with more partners and disease still spreads. Whereas if everyone kept their pants on unless it was time to conceive a child with your one livelong partner, disease would disappear completely and the laundry’d never get done. Which is true enough on some very narrow and theoretical level, or even for an individual couple, but no one with a brain thinks enough of the population will go along with it for it to be practical by itself.
Devlin Bach
With religion being the biggest hoax ever played on mankind, i guess people who believe it, will have to also deal with the results. Either people are going to take hold of their lives, or die. Ignorance holds a heavy gun.
osocubano
@Devlin Bach:
So, Benedict is well hung, huh?
Devlin Bach
PS Tho I must say, the Pope’s does have a staggering dress collection
strumpetwindsock
@Devlin Bach:
That just gave me visions of the fashion show scene from Fellini’s “Roma”
Charles J. Mueller
A new Broadway Musical named Nuns of Fun
Hats by Spellman.
Shoes by Dellman.
Sisters of the Perpetual Indignation doing the Vatican Can can
and featuring Mary Magadalane singing
Get Me to the Cross on Time,
It Only Hurts For a Little While and
Throw Mama From the Cross a Kiss.
Bill Perdue
Religion is the enemy.