Pope Benedict XVI | 03/17/2009 9:35 am

Pope: Condoms 'Aggravate' HIV/AIDS

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Pope Benedict XVI made his take on condoms quite clear yesterday, when he insisted that such prophylactics do nothing to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. In fact, he claims they only help increase the bug’s numbers.

Said the pope, who made his first trip to Africa yesterday, "[AIDS] is a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, and that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems."

Benedict’s stance should come as no surprise, of course — the Vatican is officially pro-abstinence, but this is the first time Benedict has spoken publicly on the matter. Many Catholic missions on the continent actually support using condoms, so Benedict’s comments may ruffle some feathers.

They certainly ruffled the feathers of the World Health Organization. Said the WHO, according to the Times: "These incorrect statements about condoms and HIV are dangerous when we are facing a global pandemic, which has already killed more than 20 million people, and currently affects at least 42 million." Those are some ungodly statistics.

Read more about: Africa, Condoms, HIV/AIDS, News, Politics, Pope Benedict XVI, Religion

16 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Thus, an utterly incomprehensible reprehensible statement from an old man in a tired religion who hasn’t a clue. Abstinence sure works, doesn’t it. It would be hilarious if it weren’t so pitiable.

By fp1 on 03/17/2009 9:39 am

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right on!

By sitalevy on 03/26/2009 3:50 am

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What nonsense this just shows you how out of touch with reality the Catholic Church is. You can’t have abortions, you can’t have birth control pills and now you can’t use condoms they need to stay out of people’s lives and stick to preaching to the flock and people can make up their own minds thanks.

By cajp on 03/17/2009 10:38 am

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Hasn’t the Catholic church caused enough grief in the world without adding more? Trying to control other people’s lives, sticking their nose in people’s personal, private lives….if they have all the answers, why is the world such a mess? All they care about….and all most churches care about….are money and control. They have NOTHING to do with the message of love and light and goodnes.

By WoodyMcBreairty on 03/17/2009 10:40 am

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"They have NOTHING to do with the message of love and light and goodness."

Isn’t that the truth. The Catholic church’s have said they wanted politic to stay out and now they are turning more politic themselves.

By GrandeCamper on 03/17/2009 5:14 pm

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Becareful…Ted Kennedy may not like these comments….just sayin’!!

By LibraLady on 03/17/2009 4:10 pm

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Pope ~ Ah, sexual health advice from an aged celibate virgin.
~ His father should have used it.

By VijaySankar on 03/17/2009 5:27 pm

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Imagine that….

A pedophile supporter doesnt think the use of condoms is helpful.

By RogerfromOhio on 03/17/2009 10:36 pm

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Calling the pope a pedophile supporter is rather harsh!!! I haven’t seen any documentation supporting that comment.

By DiamondInTheRough on 03/17/2009 10:55 pm

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There are pedophiles all over the world. To suggest that they are only in the catholic churches is absurd.

By deberB on 03/18/2009 6:29 am

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He is still living in the dark ages of Catholicism.

By IMLIZZIE on 03/17/2009 11:55 pm

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Admittedly I am not catholic, but I have never understood this stance. For him to make this statement, in Africa of all places, where the AIDS epidemic has reached crisis level, is just unfathomable to me.

By LauriAnderson on 03/18/2009 12:57 am

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It’s revealing to see that this Pope has no compassion for the many married and faithful women who find themselves with a diagnosis of AIDS. Women in Africa and around the world find themselves dying because unfaithful men have no regard for their marriage vows. It’s interesting that the Catholic Church finds more value in male energy right or wrong and constantly disregards the feminine. The only female The Church has ever valued is one that is capable of "A Virgin Birth" . Please tell me when women will walk away from The Boys Club of any fundamental religion and just start respecting themselves?

By francesroehm on 03/18/2009 1:35 am

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Although I agree with everyone here about the Pope, I think his words are being misconstrued. I think the point he was trying to make is you can’t just throw money and condoms at people and expect AIDS & HIV to disappear. Thinking that it alone will solve the crisis just aggrevates the issue more.

There’s so much emphasis on using protection to help prevent AIDS and less on helping women stand up for their right to say no and teaching guys to not go around spreading their seeds. It aggrevates the problem because people just assume "Well, if I used a condom here, then I can go back home and have unprotected sex with…" They (condoms) are not 100% fail proof, even when used correctly. And then you’re spreading it to children who have no say in the matter at all. There’s not enough education in Africa. Plain and simple.

Yes, the Catholic Church has such a hard stance when it comes to sex and religion but their foundation of marriage is based off of value and respect a husband and wife should have for each other. Everyone, including the Church itself seems to have forgotten that. That’s why it’s so out of touch with reality in today’s society.

By KimberlyA on 03/18/2009 4:54 pm