Facebook group attacks the Vatican with condom campaign
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/5061020/Facebook-group-attacks-the-Vatican-with-condom-campaign.html A campaign on Facebook has recruited tens of thousands of supporters to bombard the Vatican with condoms to protest against the Pope's controversial remarks about the spread of HIV. By Nick Squires In Rome Last Updated: 2:25PM GMT 27 Mar 2009 Facebook group attacks the Vatican with condom campaign Benedict XVI was deluged with criticism after stating that condoms "aggravate" the spread of AIDS Photo: AFP/GETTY Organisers have claimed that 60,000 have pledged to send prophylactics to the Pontiff as a result of the call on the social networking site. The Italians behind the initiative hope they will be joined by Facebook groups around the world, including from Britain and the United States: "The campaign is spreading across Europe, with thousands of supporters in France, England, Germany, Austria and Bulgaria." Benedict XVI was deluged with criticism after stating that condoms "aggravate" the spread of the disease. The Lancet, Britain's leading medical journal, used an editorial to accuse Benedict of having distorted scientific evidence in order to promote the teachings of the Catholic Church. Related Articles <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5059161/Pope-distorted-science-in-condom-row-says-Lancet.html>Pope 'distorted condom science' <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/5013378/France-and-Germany-rebuke-Pope-over-condom-and-Aids-in-Africa-comments.html>France and Germany rebuke Pope over condom and Aids in Africa comments <http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/george_pitcher/blog/2009/03/18/why_the_pope_is_right_about_condoms>Why the Pope is right about condoms <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/cameroon/5007124/Anger-as-Pope-Benedict-XVI-says-condoms-make-Aids-worse.html>Anger as Pope Benedict XVI says condoms make Aids worse <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/5005357/Pope-Benedict-XVI-condoms-make-Aids-crisis-worse.html>Pope Benedict XVI: condoms make Aids crisis worse "Whether the Pope's error was due to ignorance or a deliberate attempt to manipulate science to support Catholic ideology is unclear," it said. "When any influential person, be it a religious or political leader, makes a false scientific statement that could be devastating to the health of millions of people, they should retract or correct the public record." The Vatican maintains that the use of condoms promotes promiscuity and that fidelity to one partner or total abstinence from sex are the best ways of combating the disease. The Pope made the remarks last week to journalists on board his official plane as he flew to Cameroon on the first leg of a week-long Africa trip – the first of his papacy – which also took him to Angola. He was condemned as misinformed and insensitive by Aids groups, health professionals and governments around the world, including the European Union, France and Germany. He was accused of sending a dangerous message which would worsen the Aids pandemic, particularly in Africa, where the virus has taken its heaviest toll. Senior Catholics rallied to the Pope's defence this week, with the head of the Italian Bishops Conference, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, saying the depth of opprobrium directed towards the pontiff had "been prolonged beyond good reason." <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Custom Faith-based U.S. Postage <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/on+allposters+today.html>on AllPosters today <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< + "A person is a person, no matter how small." Dr. Seuss --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
