Quote:
LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: On his first visit to Africa since becoming pontiff, Pope Benedict has restated the Catholic Church's opposition to condoms as a means to combating the AIDS epidemic. The Pope says condoms won't solve the AIDS crisis, and what's needed is a change in attitudes to sex. The remarks have infuriated AIDS groups here who fear the approach will only lead to more infections. Karl Hoerr reports.
KARL HOERR, REPORTER: There's no doubting the seriousness of the AIDS epidemic in many parts of Africa. Whilst inroads have been made in some countries, African nations have some of the world's highest known infection rates. The United Nations estimates 22 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa were affected with HIV AIDS in 2007 - two thirds of the worldwide total. To most health experts, the distribution of condoms is vital to reducing infections. But flying into Cameroon, the Pope made it clear the Catholic churches tough stance on the issue hadn't changed.
POPE BENEDICT XVI (voiceover translation): You can't overcome this problem of AIDS with just money. It helps, but if there is no soul, the money cannot help. You cannot overcome it just by distributing condoms. You will increase it.
KARL HOERR: The comments have angered AIDS groups in Australia. They say the Pope's views risk undoing efforts to educate young Africans about safe sex.
DON BAXTER, AUST. FEDERATION OF AIDS ORGANISATIONS: Unfortunately, it gives I think the imprimatur for young African men not to use condoms in their negotiations with African women.
KARL HOERR: The Pope says the answer is what he calls a "humanisation of sexuality". Don Baxter says Christian and Muslim denominations are battling for a foothold in many parts of Africa and are attracting a lot of followers.
DON BAXTER: There's a lot of investment going in on the part of all of those churches, including in particular the Catholic Church. And so there's great competition for changing the values and attracting African people to particular churches.
KARL HOERR: He says the Catholic Church's approach to combating HIV has failed.
DON BAXTER: There's also been the Bush administration, which previously ran an abstinence line similar to what the Pope's running, particularly in Uganda is a very clear case example of how abstinence does not work.
KARL HOERR: Pope Benedict didn't restrict his comment honourable senator the AIDS crisis. He also sought to add a moral element to debate about the current economic global turmoil.
POPE BENEDICT XVI (voiceover translation): We know that the fundamental element of the crisis is the deficit of ethics in economic structures. We understand that ethics is something that is outside the concept of economy, but the economy cannot work if it does not work within ethics.
KARL HOERR: The pontiff also urged Christians to work against violence, poverty and corruption. Later in the week, he will meet HIV AIDS sufferers in Cameroon. Karl Hoerr, Lateline.
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The NY Times article quotes him as saying "On the contrary, it increases the problem."
He's right that a change in attitudes about sex will help Africa, but they need more of a modern scientific approach that discourages promiscuous and unprotected sex and raping virgins to cure yourself rather than some religious kook telling them that condoms will make the problem worse.
Catholics need to make their voices heard if they don't want their church spreading this kind of bullshit that kills people.