Comments on: Toynbee: Pope Killed Millions

By: Gregory Carlin

Gregory Carlin — Sat, 09 Apr 2005 08:51:53 +0000

I think the editor should have been on the phone to Ms Toynbee to remind her that the Roman Pontiff was of fixed views, he was not Pol Pot. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on condom social marketing and it hasn't worked. Condoms do very little unless men are prepared to use them and generally in Africa they are not. The Pope had less impact on HIV than the male phenomena of demand sexuality. The Vatican influence within the context of prostitution and homosexuality is slight. The highest rates of HIV in Africa relate to geography with small Catholic populations, the proportion of Catholics in South Africa for example is quite small. Polly Toynbee seems to be suggesting that the human condition for Africans is to be polygamous by nature, she also seems to be alluding to the possibility in her article that there are far too many of them. According to the UN there are no examples of HIV epidemics resolved by programs based primarily on condom promotion. Abstinence and fidelity are not workable options for a constituency seeking to anchor promiscuity and transactional sex as the human condition.

By: Kathy K

Kathy K — Sat, 09 Apr 2005 00:58:30 +0000

Unfortunately, Paul, it's quite easy to get STDs from a cheating husband, in a culture where it is expected that husbands cheat.

And I don't believe the church encourages sexual abstinence after marriage.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 17:14:13 +0000

Um, Ms. Toynbee leaves out an important part of John Paul II's message, sexual abstinence unless married. It's very old fashioned and not PC, but it works every time and much better than condoms. It's very hard to get an STD by shaking hands and smiling.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 15:43:12 +0000

Bonus points for use of the word "suasion"!

By: Meezer

Meezer — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 15:24:26 +0000

People who believe in such things do not believe in "sexual trivia." They (and I, though not Catholic) believe that in only one thing can man share the Divine while still on this earth: the power to create life. To take this power lightly is grievous sin.
People do not die because they have too many siblings. They die because there is not (in many cases) a way to influence currupt governments for good. There is plenty of food in the world, and to spare.
People are not orphans because of lack of condoms. They are orphans because of poor behavioral choices.
Last week, a young high school girl was killed while walking to a track meet. It wasn't walking that killed her. It was a *choice* of what beverage to drink made by the man who killed her with his car.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 15:11:43 +0000

I disagree with those policies, although I think the democratic process can rightfully make them. They're rather longstanding and bipartisan, too.

Plus, it's not as if the U.S. has a naval blockade up. Others, including private American aid groups, can and do take condoms to Africa.

By: Bill K

Bill K — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 15:08:47 +0000

What would you say of Bush in this exact situation then? He actually can stop condoms from going into Africa, he actually can stop doctors from going in if they advocate condoms.

By: Rooftop Report

Rooftop Report — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 15:08:05 +0000

Contraceptive Killer
An all around great post by James Joyner....