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Pope in Africa says church must help the poor

Hatuey

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Pope in Africa says church must help the poor

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Pope Benedict XVI urged Cameroon's bishops Wednesday to defend the traditional African family from the dangers of modernity and secularization and to spare the poor from the impact of globalization.

On his first African pilgrimage, Benedict also called it the duty of all Christians — particularly those with political and economic responsibilities — to contribute to the building of a "more just world where everyone can live with dignity."

The pope met with Cameroon President Paul Biya, one of Africa's longest-ruling strongmen, who has been in power since 1982 and recently was accused by the Amnesty International rights organization of seeking to crush political opposition.

The Catholic Church must help the poor. An honorable idea. I wonder what kind of help the poor in Africa need and who this help is supposed to be provided by. Is it supposed to be provided by dictators like Paul Biya who have mock elections every few years? Is he talking about helping the poor by opposing the use of contraceptives such as condoms? Essential if one has any hope of stopping AIDS? I doubt it.
 
Religion bashers. :roll:



Seriously, you are critisizing someone who is offering help? Seriously?
 
Religion bashers. :roll:

How is it bashing it? Or are you afraid of answering the questions I posed?

Seriously, you are critisizing someone who is offering help? Seriously?

And I asked what kind of help this is. Telling a continent full of uneducated poor people who have sex like rabbits that they can't use condoms is NOT helping. Posing beside dictators named in the same group as Mugabe, Mbasogo & Mswati is not helping. So do you have anything to support the notion that the pope is actually offering to help Africa's poor? Even after he poses for photo-ops with Paul Biya?
 
How is it bashing it? Or are you afraid of answering the questions I posed?


From your article:

"In a briefing to reporters, Lombardi noted the pope was expressing a long-standing Vatican position. He said Benedict wanted to stress that a reliance on condoms distracted from the need for proper education in sexual conduct."

You disagree?



And I asked what kind of help this is. Telling a continent full of uneducated poor people who have sex like rabbits that they can't use condoms is NOT helping. Posing beside dictators named in the same group as Mugabe, Mbasogo & Mswati is not helping. So do you have anything to support the notion that the pope is actually offering to help Africa's poor? Even after he poses for photo-ops with Paul Biya?

again from your article:


"In a briefing to reporters, Lombardi noted the pope was expressing a long-standing Vatican position. He said Benedict wanted to stress that a reliance on condoms distracted from the need for proper education in sexual conduct."
 
From your article:

"In a briefing to reporters, Lombardi noted the pope was expressing a long-standing Vatican position. He said Benedict wanted to stress that a reliance on condoms distracted from the need for proper education in sexual conduct."

You disagree?

Ummmm yes considering :

Catholic Church's Opposition To Condom Use Contributes To Spread Of HIV In Latin America, UNAIDS Official Says

The Roman Catholic Church's opposition to condom use is contributing to the spread of HIV in Latin America, Alberto Stella -- UNAIDS coordinator for Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica -- said on Monday, Reuters reports.

"In Latin America, the use of condoms has been demonized, but if they were used in every relation, I guarantee the epidemic would be resolved in the region," Stella said. He added that youth "start to be sexually active between 15 and 19 without sex education" -- a factor that contributes to the spread of HIV. In addition, evidence indicates that promoting abstinence is "not working," according to Stella.

Simply speaking, the naïvité of the Catholic Church and it's record on sexual education do not fit the 21st century world. It didn't fit the 20th century either. Or do you think that saying that opposing condom use in continents populated by largely uneducated religious majorities is the correct path to stopping the spread of diseases like AIDS?

again from your article:

"In a briefing to reporters, Lombardi noted the pope was expressing a long-standing Vatican position. He said Benedict wanted to stress that a reliance on condoms distracted from the need for proper education in sexual conduct."

Repetition does not mean you have a point. ;) Or are you now going to argue that the pope is helping poor people in Africa by posing with their dictators?
 
Telling a continent full of uneducated poor people who have sex like rabbits that they can't use condoms is NOT helping.
Do you think Africans are too stupid, or too morally bankrupt to learn to control the behaviors that spread AIDS?

..do you have anything to support the notion that the pope is actually offering to help Africa's poor?
Africa | Catholic Relief Services --and that's just the USCCB. Worldwide, Catholic charitable services are leaders in caring for those in need.
 
Do you think Africans are too stupid, or too morally bankrupt to learn to control the behaviors that spread AIDS?


.

Well using condoms is one of those behaviors that is helpful in preventing the spread of AIDs.
 
How about the Pope advocates the use of condoms in Africa, just maybe it'll help with HIV
 
Well using condoms is one of those behaviors that is helpful in preventing the spread of AIDs.

Is it working? Or is it sending a mixed message that might actually CONTRIBUTE to the spread of AIDS?
 
Pope in Africa says church must help the poor



The Catholic Church must help the poor. An honorable idea. I wonder what kind of help the poor in Africa need and who this help is supposed to be provided by. Is it supposed to be provided by dictators like Paul Biya who have mock elections every few years? Is he talking about helping the poor by opposing the use of contraceptives such as condoms? Essential if one has any hope of stopping AIDS? I doubt it.

So...you are getting all pissy because the pope suggests that his organization should...help?

I don't understand you at all.
 
How about the Pope advocates the use of condoms in Africa, just maybe it'll help with HIV

Yeah--he could lead them in prayer--...keep having sex outside of the bond of marriage and pray that the little latex prophylactic baking in the African sun holds up. Great plan.:doh
 
Pope Palpatine would never advocate the use of condoms. And honestly, why should he have to? Every religion has their own set of ideals and beliefs.
 
Is it working? Or is it sending a mixed message that might actually CONTRIBUTE to the spread of AIDS?

What mixed message? If one is going to have sex use a condom to prevent the spread of HIV.

I know you are just going to say "Don't have sex" but I doubt people are going to stop having sex.
 
What mixed message? If one is going to have sex use a condom to prevent the spread of HIV.

I know you are just going to say "Don't have sex" but I doubt people are going to stop having sex.

The Church attempts to explain why sex should be reserved for marriage. It's not like it just says. Don't do it.:roll: It's a theological principle that respects the dignity of the human person.

Seculars supporting condoms just want to toss money and rubber at the problem and don't care for the PEOPLE.
 
The Church attempts to explain why sex should be reserved for marriage. It's not like it just says. Don't do it.:roll: It's a theological principle that respects the dignity of the human person.

According to Catholics, but who says that they are right?

Seculars supporting condoms just want to toss money and rubber at the problem and don't care for the PEOPLE.

Um...what? What exactly is that supposed to mean? Condoms aren't 100% effective, but they do help.
 
The Church attempts to explain why sex should be reserved for marriage. It's not like it just says. Don't do it.:roll: It's a theological principle that respects the dignity of the human person.

They have been doing that what for a couple of thousand years now. How has it worked out so far? I know condoms are helpful in preventing the spread of HIV.
 
According to Catholics, but who says that they are right?
Follow Catholic teaching on the matter and marry someone who also follows the teachings--you are 100% guaranteed to be AIDS free (barring a rape or a horrible needle-stick accident)
 
Follow Catholic teaching on the matter and marry someone who also follows the teachings--you are 100% guaranteed to be AIDS free (barring a rape or a horrible needle-stick accident)

You mean, by placing an unusual amount of importance on sperm?

every_sperm_is_sacred1.jpg
 
Follow Catholic teaching on the matter and marry someone who also follows the teachings--you are 100% guaranteed to be AIDS free (barring a rape or a horrible needle-stick accident)

Yeah those horrible needle-stick accidents are a bitch. I didn't get AIDS from it, but I got hepatitis from it.

Last time I ever wore sandals on a beach in California.
 
They have been doing that what for a couple of thousand years now. How has it worked out so far? I know condoms are helpful in preventing the spread of HIV.

Are you supporting their teaching, or introducing confusion by suggesting a piece of latex will keep someone "safe" while engaging in risky behaviors?
 
Are you supporting their teaching, or introducing confusion by suggesting a piece of latex will keep someone "safe" while engaging in risky behaviors?

It isn't guaranteed to keep someone safe, but it certainly couldn't hurt. It helps to prevent STD's. I still fail to see how this implies that they don't care about people.
 
You mean, by placing an unusual amount of importance on sperm?

every_sperm_is_sacred1.jpg

That's a red-herring and not even what the Church teaches concerning the issue.

That's what happens when you get your Catholic theology from Monty Python.:roll:
 
That's a red-herring and not even what the Church teaches concerning the issue.

That's what happens when you get your Catholic theology from Monty Python.:roll:

I meant it more as a joke, but feel free to take it seriously.
 
It isn't guaranteed to keep someone safe, but it certainly couldn't hurt. It helps to prevent STD's. I still fail to see how this implies that they don't care about people.

It can hurt in that it gives a false sense of safety and so people engage in the risky behavior thinking "it won't happen to me!"
 
I meant it more as a joke, but feel free to take it seriously.

I love Monty Python--and even that "Every sperm is sacred" song is funny if it's seen as satire rather than how so many seem to actually believe that the Church teaches that.
 
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