Church slams use of condoms in Aids fight

[dArKeR]

Addis Ababa - Condoms should not be used to fight HIV and Aids as they are un-Christian and unreliable, according to an influential church in Ethiopia, where 1 000 people are infected daily.

"Our church does not condone the campaign to use condoms against HIV/Aids because such practices are un-Christian and are not permitted under the ethics of the Orthodox Church," a church leaflet distributed this week said.

"We teach that a couple should be faithful to each other and avoid multiple partners, which is the major cause of HIV/Aids infection," the leaflet said.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1096381621751B231

Some really sick twisted people!

[clonebot]

1. alot of good thats done

lets eliminate all science while were at it too

[eriffle]

2. Well, don't jump off the deep end

They're not sick and twisted, out of touch sure, but not sick and twisted. If what they said is followed, HIV/AIDS would be eliminated. Abstinence is the only 100% fool proof way to stop the spread of STD's.

[malatesta1137]

7. bs

Abstinence is the only 100% fool proof way to stop HUMANITY. Didn't you know that sex is what causes life? Church people ARE sick, twisted, ignorant AND evil.

on edit: HIV can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, so there goes once again your 100% fool proof theory.

[eriffle]

17. I didn't say HIV

I said STD. Secondly, yes there are flaws with this reasoning. People can have HIV from birth, could have caught it from something else (blood transfusions), and other reasonings. However, casual sex with or without condoms increases the RISK of spreading these diseases. The less sex that happens, the less times it can be spread. I'm not touching the theological issue here, all I'm saying is that their argument does have a basis outside of "sick and twisted" religious thinking. I wouldn't advocate not using condoms just because their "un-christian" because it would increase unprotected sex, but I would advocate abstinence until marriage (or other type of comitment) as a way to improve your chances of not getting something. I think you are confusing what I'm saying with the fanatical religious things you've heard from other sources. Talk to a doctor, they'll tell you the same thing. If you can avoid a situation that puts you at risk for infection, do it.

[malatesta1137]

34. yes you did

you wrote 'HIV/AIDS would be eliminated'. Your attitude against sex is no different from the church's. Sex has nothing to do with marriage, which has been proven, in any event, to be a failed institution. Sex is a wonderful thing and I would NOT encourage anyone against it. What I would encourage is the increase of funds for AIDS research.

[donheld]

19. yes they're sick and twisted

Not to teach the use of condoms only promotes disease and death. Abstinence is good in theory but it's just not going to happen. Maybe a few, very few, can deal with total abstinence but most can't, nor should they.

[Malva Zebrina]

21. right and as from time immorial, people have not practiced abstinence

and what of a person who marries for the second time and has AIDS from a previous partner? And what of the person who committed a horrible, unforgivable, worst of all sins, and was not faithful to their partner? Is the woman of that union to be punished? Punishment is a biggy with this religion.



Get real. Abstinence is not a natural approach to problems re AIDS, and even if it were to is, why not have condoms available as a second prevention? Especially to women who may be faithful but will contract AIDS from a partner and will deliver a baby who also has AIDS. Or to a man who is faithful but marries a woman who has AIDS due to some other factor than sex?



This is really stupid to the nth degree. How can this religion do this and ignore the well being of humanity with these stupid religious precepts?

[Tommy_Douglas]

24. So in otherwords...

We just have to find one partner and stay faithful or not have sex at all. Sounds simple until you realize the human race has never really been able to do that. Nor can we expect that to happen.

[Just Me]

33. Considering all the priests who couldn't resist this "flesh-driven" world,

,...doncha' think you are unfairly hailing a standard that even the most educated, most powerful, most wealthy cannot meet and imposing it over the rest of the "common" people?

Nothing personal,...but,...GET REAL,...puhlease.

[chicagojoe]

3. More progressive thought from "Gods' Chosen Ones".

[eriffle]

4. Also....

HIV/AIDS can be spread, however not as likely, even if condoms are used. The latex is like a very fine cloth, it has microscopic holes and gaps. Those gaps can be larger than an HIV virus and it can slip in. There are many other ways people can infect each other during intimate acts. Condoms can give a false sense of security that you can sleep with anyone and not catch anything, which I think is what the article is trying to say. I do agree though, that they don't try to win anybody over with the way it's written however.

[megatherium]

11. condoms and HIV

The latex might be like a "very fine cloth" but that's not the reason that condoms can fail to prevent transmission of HIV. I believe the real concern is that condoms can break or slip off. Studies I have read indicate that condoms have a failure rate for preventing HIV (in heterosexual couples) similar to their failure rate at preventing pregnancy. That's not at all reassuring. So I think the anti-condom folks have a good point: if you, personally, want to be safe, the way to go about it is abstinence before a monogamous marriage.

The real reason why condoms are promoted for prevention of HIV is epidemiological. If (as one study indicated) the average HIV-infected heterosexual man will infect 5 women in his lifetime without condoms, but only 0.5 women if he uses condoms, the epidemic will burn itself out.

The Uganda ABC campaigns against HIV stress abstinence. This has been a successful approach. These campaigns include promoting condom use (for those unable to be abstinent or monogamous in marriage), but that's not the primary message if for no other reason that condoms are not generally available in poor, rural Africa.

Those of you who are into safer sex, contemplate why safer sex guidelines always recommend that you get tested for HIV regularly (every three months). It's because safer sex is not completely safe, and they want to make sure you're not unknowingly infecting your partners (and also, the sooner you know you have HIV the better, so you can be treated for it).

[NickB79]

15. No, HIV cannot pass through a condom's pores

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a940506.html

[DrWeird]

16. Yeah, and God created the Grand Canyon 6,000 years ago.

Jesus fucking Christ.

[Raster]

23. I don't know where you're getting your info, but you are wrong.

If you are sexually active, latex condoms are the BEST PROTECTION against HIV. Period.

[Character Assassin]

5. No, those practises are uncatholic, not unchristian.

How typical of the Church to put out such a chump-hange position as this.

[JerseygirlCT]

14. If I'm reading this right, this time it's an orthodox church...

not the R. Catholic church. But perhaps the article leaves that unclear.

[aquart]

6. Big help.

Gonna be a lotta funerals in Ethiopia.

[KitSileya]

8. I am saddened by my Church

I believe that the teachings of the Church is sadly out of date and not very compassionate on many issues, (homosexuality, pre-marital sex etc) but none of those are as grievous as their insistence on seeing condoms as the great evil in the fight against HIV/Aids.

I agree with them that a greater emphasis on fidelity and abstinence must be encouraged - so many, many wives in African countries are infected because their husbands cheat on them, which, from what I've been led to believe, is an accepted practice in many African cultures. Condoms aren't the only answer, I believe that information is as important. But to demonize condoms is to encourage death. It's as simple as that.

KitSileya

[Voltaire99]

9. Do something about it

Don't sit there in a pew and take it. Speak up. Act upon your conscience.

Follow Christ's example in the temple and raise some holy hell.

[KitSileya]

27. I agree with you.

However, the Catholic Church in Norway's probably the most progressive branch of the Mater Ecclesia. There's no need to sit in the pews and listen to it and not speak up simply because most of the priests don't preach against condoms against HIV/Aids etc. But you're right, I should definitely not keep quiet.

I think we Norwegian Catholics are excused by the Vatican for our overly democratic opinions because we're diaspora ;) We've had to learn to live and let live as our parishes are large in geographical terms but small in numbers, and only about a fifth of us are ethnic Norwegians. (The largest other ethnic groups being Vietnamese, Tamil and Chilean - not exactly encouraging homogenization). But there's only about 36,000 of us officially, (ca 50,000 unofficially, as many won't register because they're used to prosecution from the government) so we don't count that much in the larger picture.

[Tripmann]

10. Religion...

..has a lot to answer for. The church should know their purpose at this stage, you only have to look at the situation here in Ireland because of Catholic Priests inability to practice what they preach. In the words of John Lennon...

Imagine there's no countries,It isnt hard to do,Nothing to kill or die for,No religion too,Imagine all the people, living life in peace...

Tripmann

[arwalden]

12. What Medical Authority Do They Listen To? Dr. Pope From The...

Vatican City Medical Research Center?

This is just as idiotic and uninformed as what we hear from those IDIOTS in the Vatican and directly from the medical FOOL John-Paul himself.

Is this what we can safely call Faith-Based Murder?

Aaaaaaaa! I just want to scream and PUNCH THE HOLY BLOODY SHIT out of these sanctimonious idiots who spread these dangerous lies.

[Roland99]

13. WWJW

What
Would
Jesus
Wear

[rawstory]

18. The next thing they'll say, is condoms cause AIDS

[lovuian]

20. I feel Pope John Paul has lost his mind

The Catholic Church again is absolutely InSane

Jesus didn't say Thou Shalt not wear a condom

[arwalden]

25. Can A Pope Be Impeached? What Happens When Alzheimers...

dementia or sheer incompetence takes over? When the pope is too senile to even know he's senile and when he can't or won't abdecate... what then?

Whatever it is... that's what they should do now. He's out of touch with reality. He's a blight.

-- Allen

[Ezlivin]

22. Where's their faith?

Can't they just pray the problem away?

What is an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God to do?

[mtnester]

26. Darn it, I am late for my snake handling session...

Yeup - And while I am at it all you cat lovers keep your cats away from my babies because they "suck the breath" out of the child. I mean, look what happened to that acursed Judas when he spilt that salt at that last supper and did not heave any of it over his shoulder...my my.

And there better not be anyone speaking bad about me cause I will know it when my left ear itches that someone is speaking ill of me. You all don't know nothing...think alligators in the sewers are a MYTH, but I believe it to be true, but I don't belive in that dang Jersey Devil hoax..yah dang lyin-ass Yankees.

Now get the hell away from me as I have missplaced my lucky Buckeye and need to go git another one quick.

<sarcasm OFF now>

Oh the delusions of the ignorant and blissful flock.

[rustydog]

28. I agree with the Pope. Just say no...

It has worked so well with Priests and child rape.

[Cerridwen]

29. Sounds like pres. Reagan n/t

[truthisfreedom]

30. they shouldn't be slamming condoms. they could break!

sounds kinky, anyway. typical.

[AngryOldDem]

31. Before the Catholic bashing ramps up...

...I'd like to point out that nowhere in the story was there any reference to the Roman Catholic Church, and the Orthodox do not recognize the Pope as their spiritual leader.

While the RCC does have a similar teaching, there are some in the hierarchy who are speaking out against it, most notably South African Bishop Kevin Dowling, who has been vocal in his opposition and is not afraid of standing up to Rome.

[FrozenNorth]

32. Ethiopian Orthodox church..

is the oldest of all Eastern Christianities (although Armenians would argue it). There are at least three separate bodies of Tawahedo church with their own administrations in Addis Ababa, Jerusalem and North America (also in Jamaica and Europe). Sometimes Ethiopian Orthodox Tawahedo Church is called Copic, which is due to the fact that till the early fifties the head of Ethiopian church was selected in Alexandria, Egypt and this tradition was changed under Haile Sellassie.

[VegasWolf]

35. I think if you cut a hole in the end of the condom to let the sperm

out, then the church would OK it. Think outside the box.