the Pope continued...
Never, ever did I want my last post to be construed as an endorsement of the Pope or Catholicism. Nor do I think that the poverty = grace doctrine is in any way justifiable. The Cold War Pope only appeared progressive or "modern."
So, it is in that spirit that I post what Tania has sent:
"No praise for pope from AIDS campaigners" AIDS campaigners sounded a jarring note Monday over the papacy of John Paul II, describing his ban on condom use, abhorrence of homosexuality and conservatism on women's rights as bleak failures in the fight against HIV." The pope's tenure straddled AIDS' rise from a disease first seen in a handful of American gays to a global pandemic that by last year had claimed more than 20 million lives and left nearly 40 million others infected with HIV. As the catastrophe unfolded, the pontiff repeatedly called for support for people sickened with the human immunodeficiency virus and always pleaded for the cause of AIDS orphans. But he always followed an unbending line when it came to the causes of AIDS and preventing its spread. In his edicts, he fought tirelessly against condoms, branded homosexuality immoral and emphasised a passive role for women as family anchor and child bearer. With an eye to Catholic liberals who suggested condoms could help protect against HIV, the pope declared in a landmark message in 1988 that use of contraception was "intrinsically illicit." "No personal or social circumstances could ever, can now, or will ever, render such an act lawful in itself," he said.--"
PARIS (AFP) Apr 04, 2005
"Pope: Afro-Cuban Cults Not Religion" -- "Ending his Cuban visit Sunday, Pope John Paul II cautioned against putting Santeria and other Afro-Cuban religions on a par with the Roman Catholic Church. ... As many as 70 percent of Cubans adhere to Afro-Cuban beliefs, according to anthropologist Natalia Bolivar." The brief story also said John Paul excluded Santeria representatives from a meeting he had with leaders of other religious traditions. Associated Press, Jan 25 '98.
So, it is in that spirit that I post what Tania has sent:
"No praise for pope from AIDS campaigners" AIDS campaigners sounded a jarring note Monday over the papacy of John Paul II, describing his ban on condom use, abhorrence of homosexuality and conservatism on women's rights as bleak failures in the fight against HIV." The pope's tenure straddled AIDS' rise from a disease first seen in a handful of American gays to a global pandemic that by last year had claimed more than 20 million lives and left nearly 40 million others infected with HIV. As the catastrophe unfolded, the pontiff repeatedly called for support for people sickened with the human immunodeficiency virus and always pleaded for the cause of AIDS orphans. But he always followed an unbending line when it came to the causes of AIDS and preventing its spread. In his edicts, he fought tirelessly against condoms, branded homosexuality immoral and emphasised a passive role for women as family anchor and child bearer. With an eye to Catholic liberals who suggested condoms could help protect against HIV, the pope declared in a landmark message in 1988 that use of contraception was "intrinsically illicit." "No personal or social circumstances could ever, can now, or will ever, render such an act lawful in itself," he said.--"
PARIS (AFP) Apr 04, 2005
"Pope: Afro-Cuban Cults Not Religion" -- "Ending his Cuban visit Sunday, Pope John Paul II cautioned against putting Santeria and other Afro-Cuban religions on a par with the Roman Catholic Church. ... As many as 70 percent of Cubans adhere to Afro-Cuban beliefs, according to anthropologist Natalia Bolivar." The brief story also said John Paul excluded Santeria representatives from a meeting he had with leaders of other religious traditions. Associated Press, Jan 25 '98.
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