France chastises Pope on condoms
Pope Benedict XVI, right, seen, with Cameroon's President Paul Biya, during a meeting at the Unity Presidential Palace in Yaounde, Cameroon, 18 Mar 2009
The French foreign ministry has voiced "sharp concern" following the Pope's rejection of condom use to fight Aids.
Benedict XVI, who is on a tour of Africa, said handing out condoms only increased the problem of HIV/Aids.
The Roman Catholic Church says marital fidelity and sexual abstinence are the best way to prevent the spread of HIV.
But France, echoing the reaction of some aid agencies, said it "voices extremely sharp concern over the consequences of [the Pope's comments]".
"While it is not up to us to pass judgment on Church doctrine, we consider that such comments are a threat to public health policies and the duty to protect human life," foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said.
The Pope arrived in Cameroon on Tuesday at the start of his week-long African tour.
"A Christian can never remain silent," he said, after being greeted by President Paul Biya.
HIV/Aids was, he argued, "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 solution lay, he said, in a "spiritual and human awakening" and "friendship for those who suffer".
But some activists were dismayed by the approach, saying condoms were one of the few methods proved to stop the spread of HIV.
Rebecca Hodes, of the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa said: "His opposition to condoms conveys that religious dogma is more important to him than the lives of Africans."
Some 22 million people are infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UN figures for 2007.
This amounts to about two-thirds of the global total.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Steve Lewis Blog
A Biomystical Christian activist perspective on current events
We are Holy One
Blog Archive
-
▼
2009
(362)
-
▼
March
(34)
- Enter the Spoof Moto Video Contest--Moto Meets Our...
- The "world's most moral army" in action: Israeli m...
- Land Day in Palestine-a report by Mazin Qumsiyeh
- Report: Israel's phosphorus shell use in Gaza 'evi...
- U.K. backtracks on preventing war crimes charges a...
- Clash in tense Israeli-Arab town
- South Africa bans Dalai Lama trip or how money tru...
- Israeli T-shirts mock Gaza killings
- UN to criticise Israel over Gaza
- Israeli minister calls for new Gaza invasion
- Hamas chief hails Obama approach
- Stop the Pope from killing more Africans with bad ...
- Israeli Police Block Palestinian Gatherings
- Pink elephant is caught on camera
- 'Good Nazi of Nanjing' sparks debate
- Land boost for Brazilian Indians
- Israel troops admit Gaza abuses
- Afghan women who turn to immolation
- Israel seizes West Bank Hamas men (to torpedo nego...
- Half of the "world's most powerful people" are Jewish
- Burma's peaceful pro democracy activists are calli...
- Help Us Organize to End Military Aid to Israel
- From Jewish holocaust salesman to denier of human ...
- Israel row derails Obama nominee
- Take Action in Rachel Corrie's Memory
- UK MP given Palestinian passport
- Battery that 'charges in seconds'
- "Coldy"
- Bolivia orders US diplomat to go
- Israeli West Bank mines 'illegal'
- Human rights investigators say Israeli forces enga...
- Israel & the U.S.'s PLAN: Divide and conquer Pales...
- 'We already know the quotes by heart,'
- Have they not a shred of decency?
-
▼
March
(34)
About Me
- Steve Lewis
- Prophesy bearer for four religious traditions, revealer of Christ's Sword, revealer of Josephine bearing the Spirit of Christ, revealer of the identity of God, revealer of the Celestial Torah astro-theological code within the Bible. Celestial Torah Christian Theologian, Climax Civilization theorist and activist, Eco-Village Organizer, Master Psychedelic Artist, Inventor of the Next Big Thing in wearable tech, and always your Prophet-At-Large.
No comments:
Post a Comment