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Pope 'distorting condom science'
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by generaldecay | March 27, 2009 at 12:12 am
216 views | 45 Recommendations | 14 comments
One of the world's most prestigious medical journals, the Lancet, has accused Pope Benedict XVI of distorting science in his remarks on condom use. It said the Pope's recent comments that condoms exacerbated the problem of HIV/Aids were wildly inaccurate and could have devastating consequences. The Pope had said the "cruel epidemic" should be tackled through abstinence and fidelity rather than condom use.
I think my head might be about to explode my mind is doing so much boggling. This man who has been elected Pope (despite many reservations throughout the Catholic Church) is now saying that, not only do condoms not help to prevent HIV and AIDS, they add to the problem. Yes, that's right! You are more likely to contract HIV and AIDS if you use condoms. Sorry, my head is spinning. I may have to lie down!
But the London-based Lancet said the Pope had "publicly distorted scientific evidence to promote Catholic doctrine on this issue". It said the male latex condom was the single most efficient way to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV/Aids.
Distorted scientific evidence, did he? No, I dare say he completely disregarded scientific evidence in order to promote his ruthless catholic agenda. I think you said it here:
"Whether the Pope's error was due to ignorance or a deliberate attempt to manipulate science to support Catholic ideology is unclear," said the journal.
Let’s hope that people are more sensible than to listen to this man’s comments and opinions. He’s a very dangerous fool.
See also Johnny's story here about the reaction to these comments in France.
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Recommendations (45)
lefty_liberated
New York, New York, United StatesAnonymous user
Blue Crush
Toronto, Canada
Amy Judd
Vancouver, Canada
Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (14)
at 02:50 on March 27th, 2009
All the regard for the "unborn" no regard for the living. Meanwhile warning people about witchcraft? This man gets paid to do these things and is regarded as wise? I think what he said is a crime against humanity.
at 12:49 on March 28th, 2009
Ah yes. The emphasis of the Catholic Church seems to have been primarily on the unborn and the ever after. It has little grounding in realism at all. Thanks for the comment, lefty.
at 04:49 on March 27th, 2009
Did his two predecessors not preach exactly the same thing? John-Paul II was even much more outspoken then Benedict the XVI is now.
It is not the Pope it self where the problem may lay, it is more the doctrine and institution as of the Church and Vatican that causes this.
The Pope him self has to follow protocol and has only a restricted lea way. Why every Pope is basically saying the same thing other then those that fund them self assassinated.
at 05:43 on March 27th, 2009
Well it seems to me the catholic church isn't enlightening anyone these days, but rather undoing progress, endangering people's lives, and warning people about "threats" (witchcraft) that are long gone.
at 12:51 on March 28th, 2009
I think that JP may have been quite outspoken in his younger days but as he reached the end of his 'reign', I think he may have calmed down a little. Although my memory may not be serving me correctly!
The Catholic doctrine certainly has a lot to answer for. Although I think the Pope has more lefroom than you think, Paschen. He has his parameters but he could change a lot if he tried.
Thanks again for the recommendation and comment, Paschen.
at 06:28 on March 27th, 2009
That.s why Martin Luther started a new movement. It.s not that the Roman Catholic Church has changed very much through the centuries. It hangs on to its old ways despite the fact that half of the so called Roman Catholics in America don.t follow the vaticans preachings. As an example Nancy Pelosi is a Roman Catholic.
at 08:33 on March 27th, 2009
I also have to lie down.. I think the pope has done so much damage saying this; it cannot be reversed...
at 12:52 on March 28th, 2009
I agree. This has caused a lot of damage, Amy. Thanks for the recommendation and comment. :)
at 10:08 on March 27th, 2009
Condoms and HIV prevention: Position statement by UNAIDS, UNFPA and WHO.
This is not a religious dispute, it's a public health concern. Sign the petition.
at 12:53 on March 28th, 2009
Thank you very much for these links, Blue.
at 15:54 on March 27th, 2009
That's what you get for listening to an old guy in a dress
at 12:55 on March 28th, 2009
Um, I can see the joke, but alas that 'old guy with a dress' has a lot of very dangerous power.
at 23:31 on March 29th, 2009
i hate religion
at 05:53 on April 23rd, 2009
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First the references.
UNAIDS. 2004 Report on the global AIDS epidemic, page.72
Preferred sources of condoms among young men in Kampal, Uganda. KamyM, Kapiriri L, Kamy S, Biryabarema C, Kajubi P, Hearst N, McFarland W, International Conference on AIDS.
Now the analysis.
In 1995, sexually experienced teenage men ages 15-17 had a sexual activity rate of 33%. In 1995 the 18 and 19 year-old men who were sexually experienced had a sexual activity rate of 58%. Then the barriers to condom use were lowered. Perhaps co-incidentally, the rates of sexual activity among sexually experienced teenagers rose to 120% or 125% of the pre-intervention levels.
The only group that benefited from the lowered barriers was married women and men, who used condoms more, but that may have been because the proportion of married men with MULTIPLE PARTNERS increased among some age groups.
Now the conclusion.
The pope was not only telling the truth about what he believed, he was right.
at 05:53 on April 23rd, 2009
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First the references.
UNAIDS. 2004 Report on the global AIDS epidemic, page.72
Preferred sources of condoms among young men in Kampal, Uganda. KamyM, Kapiriri L, Kamy S, Biryabarema C, Kajubi P, Hearst N, McFarland W, International Conference on AIDS.
Now the analysis.
In 1995, sexually experienced teenage men ages 15-17 had a sexual activity rate of 33%. In 1995 the 18 and 19 year-old men who were sexually experienced had a sexual activity rate of 58%. Then the barriers to condom use were lowered. Perhaps co-incidentally, the rates of sexual activity among sexually experienced teenagers rose to 120% or 125% of the pre-intervention levels.
The only group that benefited from the lowered barriers was married women and men, who used condoms more, but that may have been because the proportion of married men with MULTIPLE PARTNERS increased among some age groups.
Now the conclusion.
The pope was not only telling the truth about what he believed, he was right.