On his recent trip to Cameroon, the Pope, in all his glory, stated that 'condoms aren't helping AIDS'. And following that, he said that 'abstinence is the only solution'. That is such a draconian and moronic approach to such impressionable people. Condoms were really helping the AIDS problem, not only in Cameroon, but in all of Africa. To come out and say that in a largely Catholic - heavily Catholic - society is stupid. If you look at AIDS statistics for the various countries in Africa, it's as high as 1 in 3. In Cameroon, I think it's about 1 in 5 - still not great. But take into consideration, that is the whole population - that includes the ruling party, the higher echelon of society, the businessmen, etc - in the slums, it's as high as 1 in 2. Now, for the head of a highly followed religion to come out and say that condoms - the one thing that was actually helping prevent AIDS in such promiscuous areas like the slums, where women are likely to prostitute themselves for food, let alone across the entire country - aren't helping, that is just moronic. You can't just replace that with 'just be abstinent, it'll work out', that is an incredibly naive and draconian way of thinking, that belongs in the 12th century. It's like saying 'okay, you can't feed your family? Don't prostitute yourself with a condom, just starve to death'. That's my opinion. There needs to be a young pope who can actually bring the religion out of the 12th century. It's no wonder why there is a lesser following in the West nowadays.
You're right but many here will probably not share your oppinion. I'm kinda reserved right now because I don't wanna be judged or something. Anyway, now no disease except flu and other minor ones can't be spread out without the knowledge of the authorities. Pope didn't had any ideas so probably he said the wisest thing he thought at that time. But abstinence? Let's be serious.
Wow you read my mind I was going to set up this topic x) Yeah to be honest I think he's a fool obviously education has to be implemented as well but other than abstinence which is hardly realistic condoms are the next best thing. Pope's always make ridiculous comments though I remember the gays are as big of a threat to humanity as the destruction of the rain forest comments and he managed to irritate the Muslim world with some rather offensive comments as well.
I just saw it on the news and was like WTF. But he can't honestly believe that people in the slums will be abstinent when, essentially, that can be one of their only sources of income.
Let's get this straight: It's not the pope who's a moron. It's the views of the Catholic church which are moronic. Catholicism is the largest religion in the world. Yes. As someone who was raised in a Catholic family, and went to Catholic school for several years, I honestly HATE it. In religion in school, we were taught from these textbooks from the early 70s (keep in mind, I'm not an old guy, I'm only 18 now), that talked about how going to discos was sinful. Hell, they barely even used condoms back then. There wasn't AIDS really, so people just pulled out. Uh huh. So many of these catholic rules are archaic. Oh lord. This post is an utter clusterfuck, and I'm sorry. I was going to make a point about catholicism in general, but I started on a tangent. So anyways. I don't believe Jesus ever even existed. I believe in God, sure. but jesus? Nah. So yea. The pope was simply saying what his religion feels. If he said any differently, there'd be a HUGE backlash from the high-up people in the Church. As for a younger, more "radical" pope? Keep in mind that religion is NOT like politics, where there's always someone on the Right or Left of you spectrum-wise. People are praised for being as strict and to-the-letter as possible, because anything else just isn't as holy. A pope that didn't follow the rules of the church as strictly as possible would be killed. Yes, it's happened. Popes have been assassinated. Many times.
Okay, agreed. It is the Catholic church's views on condoms and the Pope was just expressing them as the 'voice' of the church. But still, if you replace all the 'Pope's with 'Catholic church's, my points are, essentially, the same. It was completely unnecessary for them to come out with that BS about condoms not doing anything to help AIDS.
Abstinence just isn't possible. Plain and simple. People were designed to reproduce and, even though they want to, the church can't, and won't stop people from reproducing. It's moronical to think that they can. The pope himself i think is a well educated person having written many books. I do think that your 'problem' is mainly with the churches beleifs because that is mainly what he is preaching
Exactly. And then some people start to argue that whole 'freedom of speech' BS. But while you do have the freedom of speech, when you're in a prominent position, where every word influences masses of people into decisions that affect their lives, you do need to think of the implications before you speak. Therefore, the Pope could be the Devil. Irony, right there.
There are many conspiracy theorists who believe the Pope is the Antichrist: http://www.popebenedictantichrist.com/ Ignore the idiotic Hitler comparisons and it actually is quite intriguing.
I have seen that page before, it is very intriguing. Especially the part about him being involved in Hitler's "Hitler youth".
I think that what the pope is saying is that condoms will not help people reproduce which would then kill off the population.
How can you not mean a pre-written, practiced and perfected (to an extent) speech? That's just ludicrous.
Would you really want every frat party to produce 20+ babies? Condoms=population control=win. < You learn that in calculus.