Burundi Catholics can't wed without HIV test

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Do you see this as a problem?

For a long time in the USA, most states required a “blood test” prior to issuing a maarriage license. The “blood test” was a test for syphilis. This is a disease that has certain characteristics in common with AIDS – sexually transmitted, usually fatal in the long run…and when the laws were adopted, not really treatable after infection.

I think you can argue that the state has a legitimate interest in not issuing marriage licenses without at least requiring full disclosure of a potentially fatal, communicable disease. In modern Americal, of course, inability to get a marriage license presents little obstacle to a couple’s just shacking up (which is a change from early 20th century America, when social approbation discouraged most such arrangements). Still, I wouldn’t want to try to argue against pre-marital AIDS testing on “privacy” grounds.

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cathologos:
For a long time in the USA, most states required a “blood test” prior to issuing a maarriage license. The “blood test” was a test for syphilis. This is a disease that has certain characteristics in common with AIDS – sexually transmitted, usually fatal in the long run…and when the laws were adopted, not really treatable after infection.

I think you can argue that the state has a legitimate interest in not issuing marriage licenses without at least requiring full disclosure of a potentially fatal, communicable disease. In modern Americal, of course, inability to get a marriage license presents little obstacle to a couple’s just shacking up (which is a change from early 20th century America, when social approbation discouraged most such arrangements). Still, I wouldn’t want to try to argue against pre-marital AIDS testing on “privacy” grounds.
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hmmm, I would argue for privacy.
My state still does the required blood tests before issueing a marriage license. It’s often misunderstood though. The law does not keep you from getting married. The law is to assure that the person you’re marrying knows that having sex with you could kill them via certain diseases you may carry. Thus they have the option of not marrying someone with the disease or marrying them anyhow.
To me, I see no benefit to the state forcing this. It doesn’t change the disease, treat the disease, or keep anyone from spreading the disease - so what’s the point? To publicly shame someone? To ruin the hopes and dreams of 2 people? Just seems like it’s pointless to me… Especially as in most cases, both parties are going to be horrified and there isn’t a cure. They may not even be able to get effective treatments.
So the state forces people to get a blood test and … then what??:confused: How’s that help society? Prevent the spread? Anything??
 
I think it would be helpful in, as you put it,
It will “assure that the person you’re marrying knows that having sex with you could kill them via certain diseases you may carry. Thus they have the option of not marrying someone with the disease or marrying them anyhow.”

In a sense that might help curb the spread of such diseases…

The main pro to this I see is keeping the couple informed… As the article stated, proof that the test was taken is needed, not the results…
It might show couples of diseases they have and might have not known about, kept from partner, or allow them to get medical attention.
 
I suggest you read the article closely, it is not the government, but the Catholic Church that is requiring this. With the spread of Aids in Africa, I think it is a good policy.

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Sirach14:
I wonder how long it will be before this rule will also be put into effect for American Catholics? If not the diocese, it may become state law, unless it is already.
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So far only two states (Illinois and Louisiana) have required pre-marital HIV testing. And both of them have dropped the requirement. In the United States the incidence of HIV is low enough that pre-marital lesting is seen as not cost-effective.

Just last week, however, the government of the Indian state of Goa announced that they are considering mandatory pre-marital HIV testing. This is in line with what the Catholic bishops of India have called for during the past couple years. India’s HIV problem is being closely watched by the world’s medical community because it is predicted to have an explosive growth of HIV infection in the coming years. (But it is still less than the rate of HIV infection in Burundi)
 
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