Pope & HIV/AIDS

In his inaugural address to Africa, Pope Benedict XVI, in speaking about the AIDS crisis, denounced the use of condoms arguing that they will not solve the problem and may even make the problem worse. This man’s opinion is that his remarks were unrealistic, inaccurate, and worse of all irresponsible. He is seemly ignorant of the harsh realities of today’s world where more than 7,400 new HIV infections surface each year. Condoms are a necessary and effective strategy for stemming the tide. The only other method more effective is abstinence which is impractical and again unrealistic – “the flesh is weak”. Abstinence until marriage also may not work in that one could get HIV from their newly married partner who was less celibate. Also, contrary to what the Pope says – there is no evidence that condoms exacerbate the HIV/AIDS crisis. While infections are higher in communities that use condoms, such a statement is both disingenuous and illogical. One must not confuse correlation with causality Fact, high condom use does not cause people to get infected! As the leader of the Catholic community, the pope has a moral responsibility to provide more intellectual and practical means of dealing with and curtailing this crisis. This is no longer the “dark ages” and another “reformation” may be just what needs to be initiated to “awaken” the papacy.