Arbygil - I had deleted the post you quoted, as it was petty.
The thing is that a huge number of people in Africa have TV's and radios and know about condoms (if not close to all but a minority). They know what condoms are for and that AIDs is prevalent. What bugs me is that the media (among others) insists that the Church is doing harm by holding a different point of view.
One of my good friends, who went and became a priest is working in Africa (a remote village). He's not an aid-worker, but just a regular priest and his faithful are trying to live committed married lives. But the atmosphere being created by the TV and radio is a deep distrust that anyone (spouse or otherwise) will cheat/sleep around.
I object to the underlying message in promoting condoms: "your all a bunch of animals that will f*** anything given half a chance - so at least wear a condom and avoid catching STD's."
But it burns me to a crisp that people insist the Church shouldn't encourage people in their decision to be faithful to their spouse.
Let me ask this: if you were married and deeply loved your spouse, would you give him/her a packet of condoms in case he/she cheats on you?
*Nods* I understand your point of view and where you're coming from, Flavus. I'm actually a strong Christian myself and I hold to the teachings of Christ. But Christ also asks us to be compassionate first - not hold to the doctrinal issues of the day. I think everyone has in them the choice to make sound, informed decisions about their sexual activity - but do they? It's not a question of F'ing everything that moves or being like animals. It's a crisis.
Education is key - yes, an abstinence message is a good thing. But it can't be the only thing because it's not changing the outcome. I have nothing against the Catholic church per se. I appreciate everyone's desire to help and bring health and healing to these nations. But part of the problem is the same ol' same ol' when it comes to westernized religion: We instill the values on another culture based on our value identity. We're not speaking the language of the people, we're putting band-aids on deep chest wounds. We're doing what "we" think should be done but we're not getting involved with the culture where they are.
And seriously - even if movies and TV promotes one message, does everyone have a TV? We have TV in the US, but we still have rising STD rates. We still have kids experimenting even though they know they shouldn't. We still have kids thinking that they're safe if they only have oral sex because they won't get pregnant (and then they're shocked when they get an STD).
I'm not saying not to preach the abstinence method. And I'm not saying people of any organization should stop giving aid to the people who need it most. But the problem is bigger than that. It's even bigger than condoms. It's education, it's serving the people, and it's telling them what safe sex really means. If people still think virgins are a cure for AIDS, then the message is not getting out. Safe sex needs to be taught in middle schools, in high schools, and colleges. And contrary to popular opinion talking about it won't make people want to do it more. It just helps them recognize the consequences.
I'd rather put everything out there and tell them about consequences to their actions than do the ol' Nancy Reagan, "Just Don't Do it". Because the inevitable question from there is, "Don't do what? What am I not supposed to do?" And they'll get their answer from their friends, like always.
As to my husband, maybe I won't want to get pregnant. I'd ask for a condom or I'd use birth control - but I want him to be STD free as well. We'll be tested before marriage, and if we're clean so be it. I can't say what I'll ask for in marriage though, because I'm not married. I hope I would trust him and he'll trust me enough that we don't have to worry about it. But it's either a condom or birth control pills for me, and my system is wacky enough that I'll probably ask him to use a condom.
