----- Original Message ----- From: "Chad Cooper" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Killer Bs Discussion'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 5:53 PM Subject: RE: Vatican Vs Science: 'condoms don't stop hiv / AIDS' > > Consider shining the light the other way. Why would those being consulted to > not use condoms not be completely outraged by such statements? > The fact is, those cultures that have the highest incidents of the disease, > are those that don't believe condoms work. The Church, in this case, is > merely reflecting the cultural beliefs of the afflicted countries.
While I certainly disagree with the facts that the Catholic church are emphasizing; saying that the use of a condom will prevent the transmission of AIDS is clearly a false statement. It significantly lowers the probability of transmission; and should certainly be recommended for people who have unsafe sex, but it does prevent stop the transmission of AIDS any more than it prevent pregnancies. The only way to be sure one does not get AIDS is to only have sex in mutually monogamous relationships. That's a factual statement that the Catholic church emphasizes. Where I differ with them is in accepting the fact that many folks will have unsafe sex and its better to offer something that would lower the risk than it is to preach behaviors that, while they eliminate the risk, simply won't be followed. The higher incident of AIDS in Africa has to do with the lack of treatment for other venereal diseases. As a result, men often have open sores, through which they can become infected from sex with a woman. In the US, the lack of such open sores means that, to first order, only men are carriers. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
