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Condoms will not beat HIV, says Pope

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Published Date: 18 March 2009
CONDOMS are not the answer to Africa's fight against HIV, the Pope said yesterday as he began a trip to the continent.
It was the first time he had spoken about condoms, though his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, often said sexual abstinence was the best way to prevent the disease spreading.

Pope Benedict told reporters: "You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms."





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  • Last Updated: 17 March 2009 10:37 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Roman Catholic church
 
1

one jump ahead,

18/03/2009 01:28:10
It's time Mr Pope got a grip!
2

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18/03/2009 01:45:15
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3

Graeme Gibson,

Sydney Australia 18/03/2009 03:08:10
Abstinence is as Stonefield said the best way.

As a christian I would ask for Gods Help.

The Salvation Army have the right answer with alcohol and that is abstinence...dont have the first drink. Alcoholics Anonymous have the 12 Step 'abstinence' programme...dont have the first drink or the first 'joint'.
The 12 Steps work also for drugs.
They bring God into the equation.
Jesus can replace the drugs very quickly when we go to Him for help.
4

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18/03/2009 03:30:45
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5

Mashimaro,

China 18/03/2009 03:53:35
Aids is not a homosexual disease. It is a sexual disease. The number of heterosexuals with AIDS far outnumber homosexuals who have it.
I never understand why the media makes a fuss when the Pope says no to condoms. Do they believe that people will say... "The pope said no to sex, but I'm not going to listen to him on that. He also said no to condoms, so I will listen to him on that"?
6

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18/03/2009 04:11:08
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7

,

18/03/2009 04:19:47
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8

Tatties ower the side,

Johannesburg 18/03/2009 04:25:40
Is the Pope a loose Canon?
9

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18/03/2009 05:15:14
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10

Mashimaro,

China 18/03/2009 08:02:27
#9 See my above statement.
The fact is that Africa has more problems than the Pope or a condom could cure.
11

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18/03/2009 09:03:49
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12

Heretic_,

18/03/2009 09:42:21
The Catholic Church's deadly propaganda on AIDS is a crime against humanity that they will one day be forced take responsibility for - just like the Crusades, the Inquisition, the burning of 'witches', the persecution of Jews, and collaboration with Fascists.

These superstitious bigots in their pointy hats need to be held to account. How many millions of unnecessary deaths have they caused? They have way too much power without accountability.
13

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18/03/2009 10:10:03
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,

18/03/2009 10:13:32
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18/03/2009 10:45:52
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16

Mashimaro,

China 18/03/2009 10:54:53
#15 so what is your point, exactly?
17

Stan Butler,

18/03/2009 11:00:08

Curiously, in Africa the countries with the highest proportion of Catholics tend to have the lowest proportion of people with HIV/AIDS.
18

,

18/03/2009 11:25:26
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19

Heretic_,

18/03/2009 11:28:52
#13 So anyone who disagrees with the actions or teachings of the Catholic Church is a bigot?

Do you think they should be exempt from criticism?

20

Heretic_,

18/03/2009 11:45:33
#17 Where did you get that statistic from?
21

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18/03/2009 12:39:50
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22

2dogs in D.C.,

18/03/2009 13:17:14
Condoms don't cure,they prevent.My own method was fall in love with one woman,get married,and stay true. 'Nuff said.
23

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18/03/2009 13:34:44
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18/03/2009 14:18:51
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25

2dogs in D.C.,

18/03/2009 14:26:07
Oh,yeah,that too,#24-thanks.
26

Wee Hugh,

18/03/2009 15:12:13
Heretic,

You were the first to use the word Bigot. It is one thing to disagree and argue about disagreements, inflammatory language only clouds the issue with name calling.
27

Heretic_,

18/03/2009 15:34:21
#26 The Catholic Church thinks it should be exempt from discrimination laws so that they can discriminate against people on the basis of their sexuality - that makes them bigots in my book.
28

Wee Hugh,

18/03/2009 15:40:04
You use subjective categories - your own judgement - to condemn. How is that different from what you accuse the Church of?
29

Man of Reason,

18/03/2009 15:58:09
#28 We're all free to express our opinions, but I'm not asking for special privileges to discriminate against groups of people I don't like.
30

Wee Hugh,

18/03/2009 16:00:42
Man of Reason,

Which privileges are these?
31

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18/03/2009 17:08:50
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32

DunCraig,

Brisbane 18/03/2009 22:15:36
#1, sorry the pope wouldn't couldn't get a grip! He looks down on the unemployed and unemployable, each time he has a bath!
33

Mashimaro,

China 18/03/2009 23:50:06
Once again... I don't understand why this should be such a problem. This is a RC belief and he's entitled to express it. It is also an RC belief that you should not be having sex outside of marriage. Hence, if you listen to the Pope then you should not get HIV. If you don't listen to the Pope then the debate is moot, neh?
The problem with Africa is a cultural one. Men believe they have the right to do what they please to women. The continual state of war and the accompanying atrocities of rape on women spread the disease and unwanted pregnancies. And let's be honest a bush soldier is not going to stop and use a condom before he rapes a child - and neither are the 49 others who are going to rape her when he's done.
Also, it is a cultural belief that condoms are the white man's way of controlling the population and they don't want to be controlled. It is not the Pope so much as the superstitious backward mentality of the people themselves which is contributing to the problem.
Furthermore, for HIV treatment to be effective, one needs to be having a balanced and healthy diet. That shuts out most of Africa.
Yes, it is a disaster. But it is a disaster of their own making. The problem with you western people is that you think you are the great white gods who are going to go in and civilise the natives. That is not going to happen bawanas. You need to let THEM sort it out and if millions die in the process then that's THEIR problem. Quite frankly, Africa can afford to lose millions because you guys interfered before and took away the natural population control of disease.
You need to understand that the Earth cannot support an unlimited number of people. If the planet is to survive, folks are going to have to have a less than perfect 80 year life. That is reality. Nature will find a way.
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19/03/2009 16:20:22
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19/03/2009 16:26:25
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19/03/2009 16:32:20
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