U.S.A.
Everyone Else
Health
Science
Business
Technology
Sports
Video Games
Entertainment
Future
NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > POPE DISCOURAGES CONDOMS IN EFFORT TO CULL THE HERD
POPE DISCOURAGES CONDOMS IN EFFORT TO CULL THE HERD
March 18 2009
Yaounde, Cameroon – Once again Pope Benedict XVI has stirred controversy. On a trip to Africa, a continent devastated by the spread of HIV and AIDS, the Pope has declared that condoms do nothing to prevent the spread of the disease and can actual accelerate the spread. The opposition to condoms is a basic tenet of the Catholic Church and has been supported by previous papal administrations, but Pope Benedict’s is drawing the ire of advocacy groups across the globe.
Much of sub-Saharan Africa is plagued with HIV with infection rates ranging from lows of 1% in Senegal to highs of 26% in Swaziland. Those massive infection rates coupled with limited treatment options have observers concerned not only for the human tragedy but also the stability of the already marginally stable countries in the region. With sex education and access to contraception extremely limited, Africa has long been the focal point for preventing the epidemic and bringing the disease to its knees. Understandably the Pope’s comments have angered those groups with many calling for an apology though the Church has declined, supporting the belief that the Pope is attempting to cull poorer Christians from the population.
“Aside from the Pope having a responsibility to the doctrine of his religion and the institution for which he works, the reality is he has had very limited practical experience in that arena and so it
is entirely possible he simply doesn’t understand how a condom works,” said Scrape TV Health analyst Rebecca Phelps. “The basics of science and sexual health indicate that condoms are a very effective tool in fighting HIV infection and thereby the spread of the disease. While it’s true that something like abstinence would be effective as well, the reality is people like to have sex and are likely to continue having it with or without protection. Just because the Pope isn’t getting any doesn’t mean other people aren’t.”
HIV is transmitted from person to person through the transmission of bodily fluids from an infected body. The most common route of transmission is through sexual intercourse, though it can be passed through blood or the sharing of needles. Due to the severe lack of money, transmission in Africa is primarily through sex. Three quarters of all HIV related deaths in 2007 were in Africa
“Africa isn’t really the richest of continents and that may be part of the plan was well. While the traditional thinking has been that of unrestrained growth the realities of this
new economic climate may mean that the Church has taken a completely different approach to their followers,” said Scrape TV Religion analyst Bertram Gas. “The battle between Islam and Christianity has traditionally been all about numbers but perhaps the Catholic Church is starting to take a different view of things and looking for quality over quantity."
Approximately 45% of Africa follows some form of Christian belief with another 40% following Islam, mostly in the north, and the remaining 15% following a variety of faiths. The Pope’s
trip to Africa was intended to further Christian belief though many see his comments as contradictory to the goal considering the rate of infection and death across the continent.
“The majority of Christians in Africa are in the south which is where the majority of the infections and deaths are taking place. Not only do you have to deal with the deaths from HIV but you have ancillary deaths in the form of children without parents and what is increasingly becoming clear, possible complete financial collapse which will inevitably lead to military conflict,” said Scrape TV 
International analyst Gustav Hander. “Vatican City doesn’t maintain itself and people who can’t pay their way into Heaven, so to speak, are really just a drain on the system. Traditional Christian belief has sympathy on those in need, it’s even in the Bible, but that text is very old now and maybe the Church is just modernizing, though in ways most people didn’t expect. This could really be a genius move by the Church especially as their numbers decline. Zealotry and fanaticism is virtually guaranteed if the populace sees the numbers drop rapidly and that will give Judaism and Islam a real run for their money.”
Christianity Holds approximately 335 of the world’s population with Islam taking up a distant second with 20%. It’s not immediately clear how low the Church is willing to go in order to keep the herd tight.
Emil Uliya, International Correspondent
NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > POPE DISCOURAGES CONDOMS IN EFFORT TO CULL THE HERD
|
Scrape Store
