Unrealistic Approach From The Most High?
Although Pope Benedict XVI feels the AIDS crisis in Africa is a “cruel epidemic,” he still says that following the traditional Catholic values of abstinence and fidelity are still the best forms of HIV and AIDS prevention. The Pope also went on to tell African bishops at the Vatican that contraception (including condoms) is one of several trends that contribute to a “breakdown in sexual morality.” Sidebar: Here’s an idea Benny, we address (in current terms) a raging epidemic and we advocate condom use AND we set-out to stamp-out pedophilia and sexual abuse among Catholic priests. What say you?
A little Salt for Your Wounds
Michael Schiavo, husband of Terri Schiavo, who died after having her feeding tube removed in March, poured some more salt in Bob and Mary Schindler’s wounds. The Schindler’s lost the battle to have their daughter remain on a feeding tube, following 15 years in a vegetative state. After Terri’s death, Michael had her cremated and took possession of her remains. Now, Schiavo has really sent the Schindler’s over-the-edge by inscribing “I Kept My Promise” on a bronze grave marker at his late wife’s tomb. To seal the deal, Schiavo went on to include “February 25, 1990” as the date his wife “Departed this Earth.” The Schindler’s are enraged and their attorney David Gibbs has said, “Obviously, that's a real shot and another unkind act toward a grieving mom and dad.”
I Want To Turn You Out; But Can You Wait Until December?
The Automotive Business Review reported a boycott said to start on May 31 by the American Family Association against Ford Motor Company. Apparently, the AFA felt that Ford’s advertising in gay publications and donating, what it reported as, thousands of dollars to groups such as the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Campaign, made Ford a strong supporter of gay rights – including gay marriage. The Automotive Business Review warned the AFA that their boycott may generate additional business for Ford from gay customers and gay rights supporters. Now the AFA has said they will resume talks with Ford and make a decision on boycotting by December. Sidebar: Get a real cause.
There were no On Blast questions this session.
Keep passin’ the open windows…
14 comments:
ANOTHER IMPOTENT MOVE BY ORGANIZED RELIGION. ISN'T IT MARVELOUS HOW THEY SOVLED RAMPANT PEDOPHILIA IN THE PRIESTHOOD WITH OUT UPSETTING THE MORAL FIBRES OF SOCIETY. TAKE THAT SKIRT OFF YOUR HOLINESS AND TAKE YOUR ASS TO AFRICA AND THE ASIA AND START EDUCATING THESE PEOPLE ON HEALTHY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFER SEX. BETTER YET BENNY, WHY DON'T YOU CALL GEORGE W. AND CONVINCE HIM TO SEND THAT MONEY HE PROMISED THE AFRICAN CONTINENT(DURING THE LAST ELECTION) FOR AIDS EDUCATION AND MEDICINE. TWO "HAIL MARYS" AND SOME HOLY WATER ISN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH. HOW COULD THE CHURCH JUSTIFY SUCH ANTIQUATED ATTITUDES ??
Dear Diluted drkmn69:
I sympathize with your view that the Catholic church and its world-renowned and lucrative history stand to make formidable enemies in the circle of religions, but it doesn't excuse their complete disregard for the legal processes and justice system in regards to addressing the sexual abuse issue. In other religions - and there are religions older than Catholicism - sexual abuse is met with harsh prison sentences and ouster from their pastoral/leadership roles. As for why the Catholic church NEEDS to adopt a new-age view to epidemics such as AIDS, the answer is simple. All religions must grow and evolve with the changing societies. Had this not occurred (even in the Catholic religion) many groups (including women) would find practing religion today next to impossible. I'm not asking that the Catholic church recognize fornication and condone it, I'm asking that the Catholic church recognize that religating the use of condoms to the very cause of perversion and depravity is the equivalent of the U.S. government saying that because we don't condone the use of illegal weapons we shouldn't preach safekeeping weapons in the home to protect innocent children. Reality is reality. People will engage in pre-marital sex whether religion, society, personal beliefs permits it, the key is to be open (not to condone) but be clear on how to give them a chance to survive their sin-filled encounter. I mean, there's nothing worse than finding out your going to burn in hell for fornicating AND you have AIDS. As for providing aid to foreign countries - namely Africa - it amazes me how many other countries the US supports that have either less need, more corruption, but Americans can justify the reciprocated results of their financial investment - ie. Iraq and the oil/contracts futures. So, maybe the rest of us haven't traversed the universe with PeaceCorps but from our PCs we see that AIDS is real - regardless of your religion/beliefs. It begs us to protect our children, ourselves and society by giving reminding them of the tools that can keep them whole. Sexual abuse is wrong and regardless of the religion or their financial effects, those that violate the law MUST have consequences and finaly that the hunger of a child, whether born to an oil rich country or the World's Zoo, needs attention.
Hey, it'll help you keep passin' the open windows...
Hey Drkmn69 do we know u what's your name?
Krissy
I'M IN TOTAL AGREEMENTWITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID " DRKMN69" AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I BLAME THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR INVENTING PEDOPHILIA OR THE AIDS PANDEMIC THAT WE FACE. I DID SAY "ORGANIZED RELIGION". I MENTIONED THE PEDOPHILIA IN THE PRIESTHOOS ONLY TO SHOW HOW BADLY THAT WAS HANDLED. WE CANNOT AFFORT A DOCTRINAIRE APPROACH TO THESE PROBLEMS. THESE ARE HUMAN PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRE HUMAN SOLUTIONS AND PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES. I TOO TRAVELLED TO PARTS OF AFRICA, WHERE THIS EPEDEMIC IS MOST HORRIFIC AND ONE THING THAT BECAME CLEAR WAS THAT RELIGION DRIVES MOST OF THAT PARTICULAR CULTURE PARTICULAR, UNLIKE IN THE WEST WHERE THIS CULTURE MOST TIMES DRIVES OUR SPIRITUALISM. I'M SAYING ALL THAT TO SAY THAT IN PLACES LIKE SOUTH AFRICA, SUDAN, ROWANDA AND LIBERIA THERE ARE LARGE POPULATIONS OF CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIAN ANGLICANS. AND I BELIEVE THAT POPE BENEDICT XVI IS WRONG...."DEAD WRONG" IN HIS ARCHAIC ECCLESTIAN VIEW OF THE WORLD IN THIS INSTANCE. WHAT MAKES IT UNACCEPTABLE TO ME IS THAT "THE CHURCH" VIS A VIE "THE POPE" WHEELES TREMENDOUS POWERS OF PERSUASION IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD AND HIS "JUST SAY NO" ATTITUDE IS UNDERMINING THE VERY EFFORTS TO EDUCATE THOSE PEOPLE. FINALLY, THE BIGGEST "PROBLEM" WITH PLEDGE MONEY IN AFRICA IS THAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS NOT COMMITTED TO PROBLEMS ON THAT CONTINENT. PLEDGE MONEY GETS TO INDIA, ISRAEL, MEXICO, IRAQ AND RUSSIA CURRUPTION NOT WITHSTANDING. I DO THANK YOU FOR THE DEBATE
FOR CLARIFICATION CALL ME ANONYMOUS 2...I'M THE THE ONE THAT THINKS THAT BENNY IS OFF MARK AND I THINK THAT COCOARICAN IS ON POINT. COCOA IS EXCEPTIONALLY ARTICULATE TODAY....LOL
AT NO POINT DID I EXCUSE THE BEHAVIOR OF ANY PRIEST IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WHO ABUSED ANY CHILD. I AM NOT EVEN CATHOLIC. ANY PERSON WHO HARMS A CHILD IN A SEXUALLY PERVERSE WAY SHOULD BE KILLED. PERIOD. IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW IT STATES THAT A PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CORRUPTION OF ANY CHILD MIGHT AS WELL HANG A BOULDER FROM HIS OR HER NECK AND THROW THEMSELVES IN THE SEA.
THERE IS A SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE AS WELL. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT ENFORCES AND WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY CHURCH THAT HAS CAUGHT AS MUCH HEAT AS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OVER THEIR REFUSAL TO PROMOTE THE USE OF CONDOMS. THE CHURCH, ANY CHURCH, IS RESPONSIBLE TO PROMOTE THE LAW OF GOD. IT IS NOT THE LAW OF GOD TO PROMOTE THE USE OF CONDOMS, BUT ABSTINENCE.
MR. RICAN I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY YOU FEEL YOU HAD TO REFER TO ME AS DILUTED SIMPLY BECAUSE I POINTED OUT BIBLICAL LAW? WHY DO I HAVE DO BE A "DILUTED DRKMN" BECAUSE I AM SAYING AIDS IS SPREAD BY FORNICATION? SO ONE CAN ONLY BE A TRUE BROTHER IF THEY AGREE WITH THE USE OF CONDOMS TO PROMOTE WORRYLESS FORNICATION? I AM NOT SAYING THAT ITS OK FOR AIDS TO EXIST - BUT IT DOES AND PEOPLE WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO REGARDLESS OF THE RISKS. LETS NOT BLAME ONE ORGANIZATION FOR THE DESTRUCTION, SUFFERING AND DEATH OF SO MANY. IN ALL FAIRNESS, THE BLAME CANNOT BE ASSIGNED TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ONLY. JUST AS THE BLAME FOR THE CRUCIFIXTION OF CHRIST CANNOT BE BLAMED ON THOSE THAT ACTUALLY CRUCIFIED HIM, BLAME CANNOT BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO ONE ENTITY FOR THE DEVASTATION CAUSED BY AIDS.
AS FOR THE WHOLE OIL THING...DO YOU DRIVE AN AUTOMOBILE? DO YOU HEAT YOUR HOME WITH OIL? IF YOUR ANSER IS YES THEN PLEASE TRY NOT TO BE TOO SURPRISED THAT WE ARE AT WAR WITH A COUNTRY THAT IS RICH IN OIL. SUPPLY AND DEMAND MR. RICAN, SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
AND ALTHOUGH I EXPECTED AN ATTACK ON MY POSITION SIMPLY BECAUSE I POINTED OUT A FEW BIBLICAL FACTS, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE REFERRED TO AS DILUTED FOR MY POSITION.
IT'S SAD THAT A MAN CANNOT HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS WEBSITE WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED.
I'M GOING TO BOW OUT GRACEFULLY AND HOPE THAT SOMETHING I SAID WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC.
AND, MR. RICAN, THERE IS NO THREAT OF BURNING IN HELL FOR FORNICATING AS LONG AS YOU ASK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS. HE LOVES ALL.
PEACE.
DRKMN69
Dear Hit & Run or DrkMn69:
My kind-hearted and intelligent friend, please tell me that my disagreeing with SOME of your views hasn't sent you scurrying from our pack? To clarify (and hopefully, for the last time) this spot is for all to express their views. It wouldn't be much fun if we all agreed and had no opinions of our own - so harden that skin up a bit. First, a slight correction, AIDS is NOT spread through fornication. It’s spread through the sharing of bodily fluids by one or more contaminated persons. Fornication only spreads illicit and (in the eyes of you and your Lord) forgivable pleasure. Although the Bible tends to mention many things (and as Freaking Rican tried to justify not long ago) it is interpreted in many different ways. Some will tell you that the Bible should be followed to the letter and nothing should be changed, while others have justified changing a few verses for their benefit. In either case, the Bible can only serve as a guide. Taken word-for-word the Bible will have us smite, kill, behead and stone half our neighbors. For example did you know the same passage that forbids men from lying with other men as they do with women, also forbids the mingling of fabrics/fibers? Which means that your use of that poly/rayon blouse would have you suffer the same consequences as RuPaul opening at a G-Unit concert. All in all DrkMn, I think we can basically agree on what is important. Lives are being lost. NO ONE blames the Catholic church for the spread of AIDS, but it’s like a traffic cop that monitors a busy intersection and is distracted “allowing” a child to be trampled and killed by traffic – sure the child was probably instructed on how to cross and watch traffic signals, but it would’ve helped if the cop would’ve asked the child to stay on the other side of the road until the light changed. Truth is, the cop could argue that her job is to promote obedience of traffic laws and not insuring that the child made it across the street safely. The same applies for the Catholic Church. It is not their job to offer alternative to Gods laws, but wouldn’t it benefit ALL to say, “Don’t do it, but if you’re going to sin, please protect yourself.” The other issues are pretty self explanatory… We (America) are always going to assist those we stand to benefit from – PERIOD. Africa doesn’t have a whole lot to offer the US – well nothing of value. Now, had we been speaking of a few centuries back, we could have factored-in the slave importation. God knows plenty of plantations would have paid a pretty penny for some fresh, top-shelf slave hands. Sidebar: I’ll take two large bed warmers please. Keep passin’ the open windows…
ONCE AGAIN "DRKMN69" YOU HAVE MISSED MY POINT. LET ME BE DIRECT. I'M NOT NECESSARILY PERSECUTING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. HOWEVER, IT IS POPE BENEDICT WHO IS CONTINUALLY LINKING FORNICATION AND PROMISCUITY TO THIS AIDS PANDEMIC AND WHO IS PONTIFICATING TO A LARGE POPULATION OF FAITHFUL THAT THE USE OF CONDOMS AS PROTECTION IS SINFUL. THAT IS WHAT IS ABHORRENT TO ME. THIS DOGMA ABOUT "DAMNATION AND PERSECUTION" IS GROSSLY INAPPROPRIATE AND DETREMENTAL TO THE TASK OF AIDS/HIV PREVENTION AND CONTAINMENT.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE HUGELY INFLUENTIAL ACROSS AFRICA, WHERE MILLIONS FLOCK TO CHURCHES, MOSQUES AND TEMPLES.
BUT THEY HAVE LONG BEEN GUILTY OF FUELING STIGMA RATHER THAN FIGHTING IT. THIS FACT WAS EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT ARM USAID'S SENIOR REGIONAL HIV/AIDS ADVISER WARREN BUCKINGHAM
"WHERE VISION HAS BEEN ARTICULATED BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS, TOO MUCH OF IT AND FOR TOO LONG HAS BEEN A VISION OF JUDGMENT AND DAMNATION, OF PUNISHMENT AND PERSECUTION," HE SAID.
26MILLION OF THE 39MILLION CONFIRMED AIDS/HIV INFECTED POPULATION COME FROM AFRICA. MY POINT IS AND CONTINUES TO BE THIS: IF AS YOU SAY THERE IS A SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE THEN POPE BENEDICT SHOULD ALLOW THE “STATE” TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO CONTAIN/ERADICATE OR OR OTHERWISE KEEP THIS DESEASE FROM WIPING OUT A PEOPLE.
HIV/AIDS IS A DESEASE NOT A MORAL OR AMORAL AFFLICTION AND IF THE “CHURCH” CAN’T HELP THE “STATE” THEN THEY SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY ….ENTIRELY. AS MY JAMAICAN GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY “ IF YOU CAIN’T DO NUTTIN’ DEN DON’T DO IT HERE.” AND ONCE AGAIN I'M NOT CATHOLIC EITHER AND I'M NOT A BELIEVER SO QUOTING THE SCRIPTURES IS NOT A GOOD ARGUEMENT IN MY OPINION. PEACE TO YOU
THAT RACE HORSE CALLED "ABSTINENCE" HAS LEFT THE GATE AND OALRADY ON THE TRACK..THERE'S NO CALLING HIM BACK. YOU. LIKE MAY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCE THE HORRORS OF AIDS VICTIMS, BUT YOU, LIKE THE ORGANIZED RELIGIOUS ZELOTS STILL SEE THIS AS SOME HEAVENLY WARMING OR RETRIBUTION. YOU COUNTINUE TO CONNECT IT TO BAD BEHAVIOR AND SIN. THE BIBLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS DESEASE. MANY MONOGAMOUS PEOPLE ARE AFFLICTED; MANY MARRIED PEOPLE ARE AFFLICTED; MANY IN THE AFRICAN AND AMERICAN CLERGY ARE AFLICTED. MANY CHILDREN ARE BORN AFFLICTED. LET ME REPEAT HIV/AIDS IS A VIRUS THAT IS NEITHER CATHOLIC OR JEWISH OR MUSLIM; THAT CAN BE PREVENTED OR RESTRICTED. IT IS NOT A PUNISHMENT FROM "DIOS EX MACHINA". PERHAPS THESE CLERGY SHOULD LEAVE THE PALACES AND GET OUT AMOUNG THE PEOPLE , YES MAYBE THE SHOULD JOIN THE PEACE CORP AND LEARN HOW YOU INFLUENCE A CULTURE FOR WHOM ABSTINANCE IS NON ISSUE. THE "FIRE AND BRIMSTONE" METHODS DON'T WORK . THEY HAVEN'T WORK FOR CENTURIES. IN THE END WHEATHER YOU BELIEVE IN GOD OR NOT THE "CHURCH'S" REFUSAL TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF CONDOMS AND OTHER PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES AS SEXUAL PRECAUTIONS IS AN STUPID AND INEXPLICABLE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT FIGHTING FAITH OR MORAL TURPITUDE HERE ..WE ARE FIGHTING MISEDUCATION , SUPERSTITUTION AND A BEHAVIOR THAT ENHANCES THE SPREAD OF A DEADLY DESEASE. PROPHYLACTIC USE AS PREVENTION HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN CHINA AND IN INDIA AND CAN BE APPLIED SUCCESSFULLY IN AFRICA. THOSE ARE FACTS. ANY ECCLESTIAN ARGUMENT IS IRRELEVANT AND DISTRACTING FROM THE ENORMOUS TASK AT HAND. PEACE
KRISALMIGHTY
DrkMn69:
Notice how we've dropped the Dear AND Dilluted? ...but seriously, here's the skinny. Religion must look beyond itself to save itself. That is, in addition to holding their teachings near, they must be aware of effective and realistic alternatives that those who falter and stray from the pack should follow. Sin (for the believers) is sin. No one sin is greater than another, so why should we allow the hell and condemnation that (I'm sure you're aware) an AIDS patient must endure? Not condoning sex outside of marriage is one thing, villifying the use of condoms is another. That's like saying pennicilin may save lives, but it's a sin to let stale bread rot away that way (not to say Pennicilin is made this way.. please don't start that fcuking issue). At any rate, you're entitled to believe (albeit your acknowledged pain) that the Catholic Church is doing a good job of serving it's followers. I, on the other hand, believe ALL religions have the responsibility to warn their parishoners of the DEADLY danger that having unprotected sex is. Preach what you will, but ultimately having a body/soul to preach to next service is more important that feeling you hold true to the "Word." If they're dead, how will you ever give them a chance to repent, serve, tide and give offerings?! LOL
Shyt...this reminds me of the MADD discussion... is it more important that we preach to our children to not drink or is it more important that if they do, they feel comfortable calling us to pick them up instead of dying in a car wreck avoiding us after disobeying?
Go figure...
DAMN I MEANT TO SAY "ECCLESIASTICAL ARGUMENT,....BUT WELL SAID COCOA.....
If you choose to abstain from sex then that's great for you but there are at least 3 billion people for whom that is not an option or a desire. There are people who are married who can't abstain. There are people who are in relationship who can't abstain. But all this is inconsequential because people don't do it. In case you haven't noticed, sex has not been considered just for procreation in for thousands of years. Yes, that horse has left the gate. Let us try to live in the real world.....please. Stop being so self-righteous this is not about you.
Krisalmighty
::: THAT'S THE STORY OF, THAT'S THE GLORY OF LOVE:::: (Sung in A Flat)
Alrighty then...
If we were playing cards, you appear to have the winning hand DrkMn. Who can compete with a brother dead from AIDS, a trip around the world holding AIDS ridden babies with Peace Corps and the purity of newfound abstinence. Boy, you are the bomb... Now, the Lord has spared my siblings, I haven't gone further than Costa Rica and had sex just the other night...the scariest part of this is that I am among the majority. On the flip side, I engaged in very well protected fornication and outside of burning in the eternal embers of hell for fornication, abomination and other sins a few of my fellow bloggers can/will point out, I feel great. I have volunteered at AIDS orgs. and have watched as several friends have bid this world farewell.. I am aware and make others aware. If we haven't proven anything, we've proven one thing... Many religions (worldwide) allow and condone killing/death for the sake of a god or a belief. Ultimately, what message does that send about that religion/god?
All jokes aside, do you think that your brother Kyle made a conscious choice to be infected with the AIDS virus and die? I'm curious to know, since your description gives the impression that Kyle was fully aware, informed and prepared, yet you apparently feel he set out to make the wrong decisions.
Cocoa Rican
...don't ask my blogger wouldn't let me log in... :)
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, KYLE MAY HAVE BEEN AWARE AND INFORMED; OR HE MAY HAVE BEEN UNREACHABLE; OR HE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE AT THE POINT OF INFECTION, ANYWAY HE IS ONE ISSUE. I GET THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT KYLE CHOSE TO BE INFECTED. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE THAT INDIFFERENT TO LIFE, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT KYLE WAS EITHER. I WILL NOT MARGINALIZE THE LOSS OF A BROTHER, BUT I WAS TALKING ABOUT 38MILLION PEOPLE IN THE AFRICAN DYASPORA WHO REALLY NEED TO BE EDUCATED TO AMEND THEIR CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE INFECTED, OR CHOOSE TO INFECT OTHERS. IN FACT, THEY ARE FOR THE MOST PART IGNORANT OF THE ENTIRE FACTS REGARDING THIS DISEASE. THE EDUCATION ABOUT PROPHYLACTICS AS PROTECTION IS ESSENTIAL WHETHER ONE HEARS IT OR 10 MILLION HEAR IT. THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR THE CLERGY TO ENFORCE THE STIGMA OF AIDS/HIV AS SOME KIND OF HEAVENLY "CAUSE AND EFFECT". IF ONE REALLY BELIEVES IN CAUSE AND EFFECT, THEN ONE ONLY HAS TO LOOK AT THE EFFECT THAT SAFE BEHAVIOR HAS ON CURBING THE SPREAD OF THIS DESEASE. AGAIN I REITERATE "BENNY IS DEAD WRONG" AND THIS ISSUE IS INDEFENSABLE.
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