Pope Condemns Condoms

[mosaix]

I am baffled by some of the comments here.

Sure, there will be some cases (rapists) where people will never use a condom no matter what the pope says. So what? There are also cases where people don't use condoms because the pope tells them not to.

Let's not get these two mixed up.

[ManTimeForgot]

I am willing to admit to the possibility of some of the more civilized portions of Africa joining the rest of the world in the 21st century, but when a place honestly and truly perpetuates the idea that raping a virgin female will cure you of AIDS I can't help but think that it is perhaps best if you and your culture die off from that AIDS.

Assuming a wide-spread AIDS cure is not found/distributed cheaply and the rate of spread and death rates continue to grow at the rate they do in Africa in 30 years it will be a moot point. They will lose something on the order of 80% of their continental population. They won't be able to war with each other. There won't be anyone left to war with. The only thing keeping this whole epidemic from taking everyone is the fact that the placental wall stands a decent chance of stopping the transmission of HIV to fetus from the mother.


MTF

[Drachir]

Originally Posted by ManTimeForgot

I am willing to admit to the possibility of some of the more civilized portions of Africa joining the rest of the world in the 21st century, but when a place honestly and truly perpetuates the idea that raping a virgin female will cure you of AIDS I can't help but think that it is perhaps best if you and your culture die off from that AIDS.

Assuming a wide-spread AIDS cure is not found/distributed cheaply and the rate of spread and death rates continue to grow at the rate they do in Africa in 30 years it will be a moot point. They will lose something on the order of 80% of their continental population. They won't be able to war with each other. There won't be anyone left to war with. The only thing keeping this whole epidemic from taking everyone is the fact that the placental wall stands a decent chance of stopping the transmission of HIV to fetus from the mother.
MTF

I doubt that there will be much of an impact on Africa's population due to AIDS. The population has gone up every year of the epidemic and given the number of years it takes HIV to develop and for its victims to die, it will continue to decrease. The last time disease had any real impact on the world population was during the time of the Black Death and once it had passed the world's population rapidly recovered.

[TheEndIsNigh]

I suspect your right Drachir. However, the flu epidemic following WW1 held back population growth for a while.

When the comming new batch of bird flu errupts those with decreased immunity might succume more rapidly.

I.E. a combination of the two events may be devastating in Africa.

[Allegra]

Great. Now the hot-blooded Parisians got involved:

BBC NEWS | Europe | Paris youths in row over condoms

Police in Paris made 11 arrests following clashes between groups polarised by Pope Benedict XVI's views over condom use in Africa.
Youths in favour of the Pope fought pro-condom activists staging a protest outside Notre Dame Cathedral as worshippers left after Sunday mass.
Last week the Pope said condoms were not the answer to Aids in Africa, and that sexual behaviour was the issue. French politicians from a wide range of parties criticised the comments.
......
Two surveys at the weekend showed the German-born pontiff's popularity in France has fallen sharply.

Originally Posted by Saeltari

I think that church may have a double agent...

I'm beginning to think you might be right...

[TheEndIsNigh]

PRO-CONDOM ACTIVISTS

The mind boggles

[Ursa major]

I'm sure they're very self-confident (), TEIN, and almost completely safe (as long as no-one eggs them on before it's all over ).

[Drachir]

Perhaps both sides in this argument should be condomed.

[Allegra]

BBC NEWS | Europe | Pope 'distorting condom science':

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.
......

"Whether the Pope's error was due to ignorance or a deliberate attempt to manipulate science to support Catholic ideology is unclear," said the journal.
But it said the comment still stood and urged the Vatican to issue a retraction.
"When any influential person, be it a religious or political figure, makes a false scientific statement that could be devastating to the health of millions of people, they should retract or correct the public record," it said.
"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."

Benedict XVI has apologized a few times for what he said during the four years papacy. But I doubt the Vatican will retract on this one.

[Vladd67]

Originally Posted by Allegra

BBC NEWS | Europe | Pope 'distorting condom science':



Benedict XVI has apologized a few times for what he said during the four years papacy. But I doubt the Vatican will retract on this one.

I thought it was Vatican policy to retract?