Pope 'distorting condom science'

[FightingFat]

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.
Correspondents say the attack from the Lancet was unprecedentedly virulent.
Speaking during his first visit to Africa, the Pope said HIV/Aids was “a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem”.
The Pope said “the traditional teaching of the Church has proven to be the only failsafe way to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids”.
The BBC’s David Willey in Rome says the Church’s view is that encouraging people to use condoms only minimises the effects of behaviour that in itself damages lives.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7967173.stm

 

[elliejanba]

yeah, I don’t think people understand that the Pope was saying that we need to get rid of a lifestyle that sex is just a game of no consequence.

 

[redrosetea]

We have no idea the lifestyle of the peolle that make this type of statement…However, I strongly think it is not one that strives to do God’s will, but only their own

 

[liberalcatholic]

Yes, it is funny how politically correct the Pope has to be otherwise some hate group jumps on him and tries to show how ignorant and outdated the church is, except there is nothing more up to date and knowledgable. The Pope called this one right, and did not offend anyone!

 

[mkarzon]

Harvard Researcher Agrees with Pope on Condoms in Africa
ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=94504

The promotion of the use of condoms in Africa has nothing to do with HIV/AIDS. It has to do with population control. Simply put, the larger the population, the more economic power, thus people like Rockefeller in the 1960’s wanted to stop Africans from reproducing at high rates. AIDs is now the vehicle for that population control.

For more on this, check out:
culturewars.com/2002/juju.html

 

[joeflow]

How about “Media distorting Pope’s comments on AIDS and condoms”??

When I saw this article, that The Lancet has offered a retort to the Pope, I expected some kind of scientific evidence. But no, not a thing, just the same tired misrepresentation of the Pope’s statements. It’s amazing how people who are supposedly so “smart” can be so dumb.

Here’s the entire article I believe they’re referencing. NOTHING NEW, but it sure makes headlines a lot more than Edward C. Green’s support of the Pope’s TRUE comments:

The Vatican felt the heat from an unprecedented amount of international condemnation last week after Pope Benedict XVI made an outrageous and wildly inaccurate statement about HIV/AIDS. On his first visit to Africa, the Pope told journalists that the continent’s fight against the disease is a problem that “cannot be overcome by the distribution of condoms: on the contrary, they increase it”.
The Catholic Church’s ethical opposition to birth control and support of marital fidelity and abstinence in HIV prevention is well known. But, by saying that condoms exacerbate the problem of HIV/AIDS, the Pope has publicly distorted scientific evidence to promote Catholic doctrine on this issue.

The international community was quick to condemn the comment. The governments of Germany, France, and Belgium released statements criticising the Pope’s views. Julio Montaner, president of the International AIDS Society, called the comment “irresponsible and dangerous”. UNAIDS, the UN Population Fund, and WHO released an updated position statement on HIV prevention and condoms, which said that “the male latex condom is the single, most efficient, available technology to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV”. Amidst the fury, even the Vatican tried to alter the pontiff’s wording. On the Holy See’s website, the Vatican’s head of media, Father Federico Lombari, quoted the Pope as having said that there was a “risk that condoms…might increase the problem”.

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.

thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)60627-9/fulltext

 

[FightingFat]

How about “Media distorting Pope’s comments on AIDS and condoms”??

When I saw this article, that The Lancet has offered a retort to the Pope, I expected some kind of scientific evidence. But no, not a thing, just the same tired misrepresentation of the Pope’s statements. It’s amazing how people who are supposedly so “smart” can be so dumb.

That’s what struck me too Joe-- the Pope wasn’t making any sort of scientific statement, he was advising on morals, so how can he have distorted scientific evidence? I wish someone would jump on this article and destroy it!

 

[FightingFat]

I see Fr. Z’s at least had a crack at it:

wdtprs.com/blog/2009/03/the-lancet-suggests-that-the-pope-is-a-liar/

 

[joeflow]

I see Fr. Z’s at least had a crack at it:

wdtprs.com/blog/2009/03/the-lancet-suggests-that-the-pope-is-a-liar/

This link is in the comments from the above link.

VERY GOOD resource supporting the Pope’s side.

ilsussidiario.net/articolo.aspx?articolo=15026

 

[Santi2]

…condom was the single most efficient way to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV/Aids.

They’re settling for “reduce” when 100% can be achieved?

 

[rvrateri]

I don’t think any of us should be surprised by the statements. It is another attack on Christianity and the Catholic Church. It is comforting to me to know that our Church is steadfast in her beliefs. :clapping:

Teri