Recently, many social commentators said Pope Benedict is "not in touch with reality" because during his tour in Africa he said the problem of HIV/AIDS cannot be resolved with the distribution of condoms. In fact, he mentioned that condom use will increase the problem of HIV/AIDS, not decrease.
People were outraged by his statement, as many notable organizations including the UN, are strong advoates of condom distribution in Africa. Commentators even went so far as comparing Pope Benedict's bodyguards to condoms.
"...The pope has to know that murder is against God's will. He has to believe that every person has the choice to be a moral and upstanding person. Yet not everyone abides by those religious views, and his security is there to prevent him from being harmed...."
Thoughts???
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/18/martin.condoms/index.html
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5 comments:
One of the comments from the CNN article:
Did Roland actually read what the Pope said? He was not focused on condom use. Here is the question he answered:
"Holy Father among the many evils that affect Africa there is also the particular problem of the the spread of AIDS. The position of the Catholic Church for fighting this evil is frequently considered unrealistic and ineffective. Will you address this issue during your trip?"
Here is the Pope's response:
"It is my belief that the most effective presence on the front in the battle against HIV/AIDS is precisely the Catholic Church and her institutions. I think of the Community of Sant' Egidio, which does so much, visibly and invisibly to fight AIDS, of the Camillians, of all the nuns that are at the service of the sick. I would say that this problem of AIDS cannot be overcome with advertising slogans. If the soul is lacking, if Africans do not help one another, the scourge cannot be resolved by distributing condoms; quite the contrary, we risk worsening the problem. The solution can only come through a twofold commitment: firstly, the humanization of sexuality, in other words a spiritual and human renewal bringing a new way of behaving towards one another; and secondly, true friendship, above all with those who are suffering, a readiness - even through personal sacrifice - to be present with those who suffer."
When the Pope's comments are taken in context, and not twisted to meet the point Roland is trying to make, I think it is clear the Pope is not 'ignorant of reality' as Roland states.
I agree with whoever posted the above comment that context is very important.
Also, I've never really been a fan of the, "People are going to have sex so you might as well teach them how to do it 'safely'," argument. One of the reasons I love JP2's TOB is that it teaches that our sexuality is so much more than an itch we have to scratch. So instead of a "we can't help it" mentality, it exclaims that our dignity as humans is so much more sacred than we realize and that we are not just animals. Of course, living it out and fighting temptation is easier said than done, but that's part of the journey of what it means to be conformed to Christ.
Though it's a bit on the long side, this was a pretty good article I've read on the other side if people are interested:
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=182&pop=1&page=6&Itemid=48
Ugh....
I'm going to limit myself to just 2 main points:
1. the author empties the power of God and His effect in our lives and AT THE SAME time demeans human beings into mere animals that can't help themselves but have sex, which denies a person's free-will. I would suggest the author look at what God he's worshiping. Cause there's something from the Bible about with God, anything's possible.
2. his analogy of the Pope traveling with bodyguards for his safety and driving with a safety belt for protection to using condoms while having sexual intercourse is flawed. How so? The Pope traveling to different countries and people driving on the roads are not sins. On the other hand, ALL (yes, even if you have HIV and a wife and want to engage in marital bliss...wouldn't that put her life, whom you claim to love, at risk? Now, is that really love or just selfish lust?) sexual activity where a condom is "necessary" I think is considered a sin.
A more fitting analogy would be: murders are happening, that's reality. Why can't the Pope just recognize it? We should give everyone some portable anesthetics so when they want to murder someone, it won't be so messy, and the victims won't have to suffer!
Okay, sneaking in a third point :P
From Anonymous' comment above, and the quote from the Pope's response, juxtaposing the author's view of the "reality" of people having sex, the author is in fact contributing to the de-"humanization of sexuality" that the Pope so clearly points out as the FIRST step to the solution.
I don't think the author gets it.
Has anyone heard of product (RED) and what they're doing for the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa?
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