<p>BBC</a> NEWS | Africa | Pope rejects condom use in Africa</p>
<p>Wow, really? REALLY? Because we all know abstinence always works... OH WAIT</p>
<p>I think the Pope failed health class.</p>
<p>i think the pope didn’t take health class, and probably thinks that those godless heathens are getting what they deserve. </p>
<p>the pope really bothers me tbqh. and i am not totally convinced he’s not an alien.</p>
<p>
Abstinence actually works quite well in preventing AIDS – for obvious reasons.</p>
<p>I think what you meant to say was that promoting abstinence does not always work.</p>
<p>^ Yeah that’s what I meant. Teaching abstinence does not usually work.</p>
<p>He is an eminent scholar and theologian, but he isn’t in tune with the reality of the situation in places like Africa, and even America.</p>
<p>Social realities defeat moral aspirations.</p>
<p>But, don’t be hating on the Pope. He’s a spiritual leader and a learned man, and he should be respected for those qualities.</p>
<p>^ Being “learned” just means he’s read a lot of books. It’s applying the knowledge to solve epidemics which is important. I respect the pope as a leader, but if all he’s saying is “Stop having sex and become an abstinent Catholic like me!” well…ok, hardly realistic and does nothing to solve the crisis at hand. </p>
<p>I suppose the answer will lie with science, not religion. the religious will go on about abstinence while hopefully researchers will work on finding treatments and a cure for the HIV virus.</p>
<p>I can’t respect the Pope as a leader. His position on certain items perceived to be moral issues has caused a great deal of suffering. Birth control, when used to protect against HIV and to limit family size, is a wonderful thing, and the Pope’s unwillingness to see past dogma causes death and poverty for those who follow his instructions blindly. To place pseudo-morality over the prevention of suffering is idiocy.</p>
<p>sorry but idgaf about being a spiritual leader if the things he is leading people to do are problematic and unjust</p>
<p>Just take solace in the fact that the pope has no real bearing on the actions of most nations, NGOs, the WHO, etc.</p>
<p>@Martha: The last pope helped end the Cold War.</p>