Pope Benedict XVI on Condoms | 03/27/2009 10:05 am
Medical Journal: Pope 'Distorted' Condom Science to 'Promote Catholic Doctrine'
© Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI has been receiving scads of bad press as of late.
First there was an uproar after he lifted the excommunication of Holocaust-denying bishop Richard Williamson. And now people are angry over his recent statements that condom use actually "aggravates" the problem of the spread of HIV/AIDS. "The traditional teaching of the Church has proven to be the only failsafe way to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids," said the pope while on his way to Africa, where more than 25 million people have died from HIV-related causes.
The World Health Organization was among the first to blast Benedict for his remark, but now, one of the best medical journals in the world has also joined the dump-on-the-pope bandwagon. The Lancet journal said in an editorial today that 81-year-old Benedict’s condom comments were extremely inaccurate and that he "publicly distorted scientific evidence to promote Catholic doctrine":
Whether the pope’s error was due to ignorance or a deliberate attempt to manipulate science to support Catholic ideology is unclear. But the comment still stands and the Vatican’s attempts to tweak the pope’s words, further tampering with the truth, is not the way forward. When any influential person, be it a religious or political leader, makes a false scientific statement that could be devastating to the health of millions of people, they should retract or correct the public record. Anything less from Pope Benedict would be an immense disservice to the public and health advocates, including many thousands of Catholics, who work tirelessly to try and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide.
This has just caused more criticism of the Catholic Church. One editorial in The Daily Nation says the church should get its own house in order before throwing more stones.
"The church fathers are stuck in a time warp; living in medieval times; they are totally out of touch, especially with youth," the editorial says. "Not only does the Vatican refuse to admit that its policies have not worked, but it will also not face the immorality which continues to fester in its own ranks."
That out-of-touch argument may be resonating, but we’ll have to wait to see whether the pope changes his ways.
Read more about: Africa, Catholic Church, Condoms, Health, HIV/AIDS, Holocasut, Lancet, Medical Journal, News, Pope Benedict XVI, Richard Williamson, World
- Dear Margo: When Dad/Gramps Just Ain't Interested
- Could Mammograms Fall Victim to Obamacare? by Liz Peek
- Liz Smith: Sharon Stone, Steve Tyrell, Sarah (You Know Who), Glamour, Lesley Gore – and More!
- LIZ SMITH FLASH! The Kennedy Conspiracy and the Mafia
- Remember shopping pre-Internet? What era/memory in the evolution of shopping do you think of most fondly?
- The Love Goddess: In Sickness and in Health ... But Hold the Sickness
- Let Down and Felt Up? by E.D. Hill
- The World in Vogue (Photos)
- Mr. wOw: Falling in Love Again With 'Marlene'
- Caption This!
- LIZ SMITH FLASH! The Kennedy Conspiracy and the Mafia
- Dear Margo: When Dad/Gramps Just Ain't Interested
- Liz Smith: Sharon Stone, Steve Tyrell, Sarah (You Know Who), Glamour, Lesley Gore – and More!
- Could Mammograms Fall Victim to Obamacare? by Liz Peek
- Remember shopping pre-Internet? What era/memory in the evolution of shopping do you think of most fondly?
- Mr. wOw: Falling in Love Again With 'Marlene'
- The Love Goddess: In Sickness and in Health ... But Hold the Sickness
- Caption This!
- Lily Tomlin Is Coming to NYC!
- Joan Ganz Cooney Still Shops the Way She Always Has
- Could Mammograms Fall Victim to Obamacare? by Liz Peek
- Dear Margo: When Dad/Gramps Just Ain't Interested
- Let Down and Felt Up? by E.D. Hill
- Caption This!
- Remember shopping pre-Internet? What era/memory in the evolution of shopping do you think of most fondly?
- LIZ SMITH FLASH! The Kennedy Conspiracy and the Mafia
- Mr. wOw: Falling in Love Again With 'Marlene'
- The Love Goddess: In Sickness and in Health ... But Hold the Sickness
- Liz Smith: Sharon Stone, Steve Tyrell, Sarah (You Know Who), Glamour, Lesley Gore – and More!
- The World in Vogue (Photos)
wOw Features
Reader Voices
Caption This!
Dear Margo: When Dad/Gramps Just Ain't Interested
47 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
The only 100% protection from STD’s is abstinence. Period.
Sin is and always will be a part of the human experience. Sin will be found in the church as well as throughout our civilization. That is a moot point, for it serves no purpose to point that out when debating this issue.
To use the argument that the Pope is "out of touch" is to prove his point. We have allowed our country to be separated from its religious roots. Our children are told that sex is fine, just use a condom. That’s just it….
Children WILL NOT use a condom, nor will they clean their rooms or not drink and drive. This is THE problem, they have not developed the frontal cortex of the brain and have no way to project into the future what their actions will create. Fact.
Rape in Africa will not stop with condom use. It is a crime of anger, not premeditated sexual gratification. Condoms will not work. Africa is a mess, political unrest and rampant rape and murder are a way of life for so many.
Only responsible, adults will use condoms. Responsible, mostly educated adults. Adults with a future, a plan and a reason for caring.
Condoms are just like gun control, the only ones to abide by the law are the responsible gun owners, not the lawless.
Well thanks! Glad someone did ;]
I have been foaling out mares and breeding more back! That time of year for me….no sleep, not much time for anything else.
Kelly, right above my computer in a frame are 3 pictures of mares with their foals from births that my niece attended - there is such maternal pride staring out of those pictures! My niece is awaiting acceptance to vet school. I tease her that she wants to be an Equine OB/GYN!
I had a friend who ‘arranged’ it so that her goats would all kid around the same time in the spring. She said she would head to the barn with an ‘apple and a book’ and be available if any assistance was needed. Your comments refreshed this memory for me.
Your comments above raised valid points. I do believe, however, that responsible adults can raise their children to be responsible and safe in their attitudes and practices toward sexuality.
You gave your niece very sound advice! The Equine Repro specialist makes lots of money and deals with the joyous parts of being a vet. They work only half of the year and have the time and money to live their life well…
Yes, many can and do raise their children to be very responsible. Yes. However, it only takes one moment, one indiscretion to make a life. Once. That is very high standard to live up to.
I know that my parents were every faithful in guiding me, giving me all the knowledge and support that a daughter could ask for. I am no dummy. But, I have fallen short many times. But for the grace of God, I survived unscathed.
So what is your point? Is there a problem with making condoms available just in case someone would chose to use them?
The Pope got out of touch when he decided to shield child predator priests……………
*sigh*…. my point is that we as a Nation have been removing God from our lives and the effects are showing up in all aspects of our lives.
Abstinence is the only 100% protection , not condoms.
Well…ok, silly…but sarcastic comes to mind.
My comments are speaking directly to the "TOPIC". Because of the absence of God in many lives, the situations are arising that are of medical concern all around the world. Living by the biblical guidlines is the one, 100% way to avoid these dangers.
Medical science is not the answer to all of our ills. Medical science is big business and promotes many half truths, it has its own dark side.
What are you talking about? There are cultures, many in fact, where women have absolutely no say in their lives, mostly based upon religious tradition. And for the pope to say what he said about condom use puts the deaths of many people due to AIDS in his hands.
"O Lord, protect me from your followers."