From "Guardian Unlimited | World Latest | Pope Promotes Abstinence to Fight AIDS"

Reasonable wail and gnash teeth as Pope continues to be Catholic

(You can almost hear them sighing, right?)

Yeah, what's with this Foolish pope? Why can't he be more reasonable? Everyone knows that condoms prevent the spread of aids, even though no studies demonstrate a positive correlation between reductions in reported AIDs cases and increase in condom use. Everyone knows that the Catholic Church is murdering people by teaching that condoms are illicit, even though womanizers and prostitute clients in cultures that denigrate women seldom start becoming Catholic in a fling's bedroom. Why can't he get with it, so that reasonable people can pat themselves on the back that they're helping helpless Africans while still sleeping with whomever they want.

He can't really take this Catholic thing seriously, can he?

The Vatican's opposition to condoms has been criticized by those who advocate condom use as a way to help combat the spread of the HIV virus. However, several prelates have suggested that using condoms that could prevent a death may be the lesser of evils.

Even his own prelates are saying loosen up! Well, sure, Guardian can't actually name them. Well, OK they still use the word evil and condom in the same sentence. Still, any progress in a snail-crawling institution of old celebate men is good. Right?

Oh:

``It is of great concern that the fabric of African life, its very source of hope and stability, is threatened by divorce, abortion, prostitution, human trafficking and a contraceptive mentality, all of which contribute to a breakdown in sexual morality,'' Benedict said.

The pope said he shared the bishops' concern about the devastation caused by AIDS and that he prayed for ``all those whose lives have been shattered by this cruel epidemic.''