The United Nations and the World Health Organization have reported that the AIDS epidemic continues to grow throughout the world. According to today’s L.A. Times:The AIDS epidemic has continued to grow in all regions of the world this year and surged back in some areas where there had been declines, according to the annual AIDS report issued Tuesday by the United Nations and World Health Organization.Although the rate of growth has slowed since the early years of the epidemic, the AIDS toll for 2006 is expected to be 2.9 million people dead and 4.3 million infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Officials said 39.5 million people are living with HIV.Acquired immune deficiency syndrome has killed more than 25 million people since the first case was reported in 1981, making it one of the most destructive diseases in history.
The news of this growing AIDS threat coincides with a study conducted at the Vatican on the use of condoms to fight AIDS. This from yesterday’s Washington Post:
VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican's office for health care has concluded a study on the use of condoms in the fight against AIDS, and a long-awaited report on it is now being examined by the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog, a senior cardinal said Tuesday.
But the prelate gave no indication of the position the study takes or when a final pronouncement might be made.
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The Roman Catholic Church opposes the use of condoms as part of its overall teaching against contraception. It advocates sexual abstinence as the best way to combat the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
But several leading churchmen have spoken out on the issue in recent years as the Vatican has come under increasing criticism for its position. Some _ such as a one-time papal contender, retired Milan Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini _ say that condoms were the "lesser evil" in combatting the spread of AIDS. Other cardinals, however, have rejected their argument _ an indication that the issue is still undecided at the Vatican.
As Carolyn O’Hara points out, Pope Benedict XVI is already on record as opposing the use of condoms even for use of preventing the spread of AIDS.
2 comments:
In the future they must be held accountable for this crime, in the same way they are being held (at least partially) accountable for the Indian Residential schools and priestly pedophilia
This is a tragic and horrific error on the part of the Church. I only wish that the Catholic people would remember this: do not hand your ability to think for yourself and determine your values to any one.
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