Posted on 03/17/2009 2:09:36 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
YAOUNDE, Cameroon Pope Benedict XVI said condoms are not the answer to the AIDS epidemic in Africa and can make the problem worse, setting off criticism Tuesday as he began a weeklong trip to the continent where some 22 million people are living with HIV.
Benedict's first statement on an issue that has divided even Catholic clergy working with AIDS patients came hours before he arrived in Cameroon's capital greeted by thousands of flag-waving faithful who stood shoulder-to-shoulder in red dirt fields and jammed downtown streets for a glimpse of the pontiff's motorcade.
In his four years as pope, Benedict had never directly addressed condom use, although his position is not new. His predecessor, Pope John Paul II, often said that sexual abstinence not condoms was the best way to prevent the spread of the disease.
Benedict also said the Roman Catholic Church was at the forefront of the battle against AIDS.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Oh, so according to the Monica Media, this Church position is something invented by JPII?
Condoms, like liberalism, only promote destructive behavior.
No disrespect intended.
If one of your loved ones was going to have sex with somebody you knew for a fact was HIV+, would you try to discourage them, or simply ignore the whole thing as long as they promised to use a condom?
Why aren't they?
After all, guns kill people.
Ban the gun's and give condoms to all newborns and death will be cured.
Hey pope, that hat ain`t hitting on anything either.
You are making a satirical argument, aren’t you?
NO ONE would willingly have sex with someone with a social disease. I certainly would not condone it.
It IS A FACT that social diseases get spread - likely by people who do not know they have a disease or who just do not care about spreading a disease. This is why a condom is good protection.
You see the point, don't you? Please say you do. Please.
My point is, condom or no condom, having sex with an HIV+ person is not a safe act. Condoms provide a false sense of security, and promoting them only causes further pain and suffering.
I agree.
Perhaps you do not understand that people with social diseases still have sex - unprotected sex at that? And they DO NOT TELL THE OTHER PARTNER. Scummy, ain't it?
The condom is protection.
“...having sex with an HIV+ person is not a safe act. Condoms provide a false sense of security, and promoting them only causes further pain and suffering.”
HIV+ people are liars otherwise AIDS would be gone from the planet.
A condom is really the only recourse for protection from a lying scumbag who wants to have sex with you.
I realize the ‘abstinence’ argument, but that really isn't working in Africa, is it?
No I didn't know that....suppose I'm not as wise in the ways of the world as you are. I guess we just haven't thrown enough condoms at the problem yet. Surely just a few more will make Africa and the rest of the world disease free for the rest of eternity. No need to emphasize personal responsibility and abstinence...I stand corrected.
Maybe someday I'll be just as smart and wise as you, but for now, I hope you'll simply allow me to marvel at your wisdom from afar with my eyes somewhat averted from the brilliance you radiate.
“No need to emphasize personal responsibility and abstinence”
How many cc’s of personal responsibility does it take to cure an AIDS patient, anyway? Can the abstinence be delivered intravenously, or does it come in a pill form?
Rhetoric and practicality don’t often go hand in hand.
No I didn't know that.”
Good God, how do you think they spread then? In the water? Via handshake? By mutual consent: ‘Yes, I feel like I need the HIV virus, can you give it to me?’
” I hope you'll simply allow me to marvel at your wisdom from afar with my eyes somewhat averted from the brilliance you radiate.”
I hope you'll allow me to marvel at your idiocy from afar with my nose somewhat averted from the crap you radiate.
Last question: If you were to decide to have sex with a total stranger would YOU use a condom?
To repeat:
If you were to decide to have sex with a total stranger would YOU use a condom?
Amen, brother.
“NO ONE would willingly have sex with someone with a social disease.”
Not even close to true, many people have sex with known HIV carriers.
Nonsense. Anyone but a simpleton knows that this is what a condom looks like to HIV.
The article ends with the statement, 'The WHO said that "consistent and correct" condom use reduces the risk of HIV infection by 90 per cent.' Doesn't sound like great odds!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.