A majority of providers of medicine & other clinical care in Africa are Catholic Missionaries. The missionaries may believe in abstinence but the locals don't.
Should the locals be condemned by a religion that ultimately governs their fate?
If Pope says no to condoms then the people of Africa get none.
Should the Catholic Missionaries provide condoms to these people to combat HIV/AIDS?
2007-07-02 22:33:05 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There is nothing funny about HIV/AIDS
2007-07-02 22:41:30 · update #1
The way to condemn Africans is not necessarily by teaching abstinence and trying to change lifestyles, rather, according to Kenyan economist James Shikwati, reckless aid is the way to do that because it promotes corruption and a mentality of dependence.
The Catholic Church is one of the the most reliable aid institution in Africa at the moment, because it is not corrupt, and opposes corruption.
But in rejecting condoms the Church has its own reasons. Remember its main goal is not to eradicate disease, but in the first place to unite people to God and teach morals. It would be very easy for any competent institution (like the African governments) to distribute condoms and save millions of lives, but the Church is not the one to do that because it holds the state of the soul more important than implementing health measures.
This is why the Pope criticized the West for dumping millions of dollars into African aid, but neglecting its real essence of solidarity, without paying attention to the real needs of the African people which is beyond the strictly material.
2007-07-03 18:44:02 · answer #1 · answered by the good guy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Judeo-Christian tradition has taught for thousands of years:
1. Single people should be celibate.
2. Married people should be faithful to each other (adultery is wrong).
3. Married couples should welcome God's gift of children and, therefore, artificial birth control is against the will of God.
If the world is going to ignore teachings about chastity (1 & 2), then why is the world so upset about teaching artificial birth control (3)?
People who are already ignoring the more important teachings about chastity (1 and 2) should have no problem ignoring the less important teaching of artificial birth control (3).
Even if a person infected with AIDS was to use a condom to help protect his or her spouse, condoms are not 100% effective (read the box) and the spouse may be infected and die anyway. A person who truly loves their spouse would not endanger them in this way.
In regards to sex outside of marriage, the Church makes it a practice not to tell people how to sin. Fornication with or without a condom is still fornication. Adultery with or without a condom is still adultery.
With love in Christ.
2007-07-04 14:49:30 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dear,
what makes anyone so sure that whatever the Pope says goes? All Christians including Catholics have a great precedent in the parables; Do you remember the one about the donkey that fell in the well on a Sabbath? Jesus told them to forget the rules for once.
Peace
2007-07-02 22:45:34 · answer #3 · answered by ziffa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
christianity as a whole should be against contraception, the catholic church is the only one that i can think of that has maintained its position about contraception, and not wavered to win popularity or favor over something that is wrong. catholic missionaries or any christian missionaries should not condemn anyone or any nation the joys of the gospel and other needs that are met through the work of the missionaries. god bless.
2016-05-17 06:28:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
>>Should the Catholic Missionaries provide condoms to these people to combat HIV/AIDS?<<
No, the Catholic Missionaries should not go against Catholic teaching. If you have no religious objection to condoms, you are welcome to provide them yourself.
2007-07-02 23:38:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the catholic missionaries will not compramise catholic teaching, by and large. christians aren't to ignore,judge or neglect anyone. your whole premise is wrong. hiv/aids was rampant in africa prior to these missionaries, the missionaries are trying to rectify the situation,what are you or your church doing to rectify it?
2007-07-02 22:45:03 · answer #6 · answered by fenian1916 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you are funny.
2007-07-02 22:37:30 · answer #7 · answered by sarang 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋