Pope Benedict XVI: Smiling killer… Benedict XVI (aka Joseph Alois Ratzinger) became Pope on April 19, 2005. Since then hundreds of thousands have died of AIDS in Africa; many more suffer as the disease ravages their bodies. He still tells us contraception is unacceptable. I have been watching this issue for three years and find this totally sickening. Why is the ‘civilised world’ not acting against this ridiculous policy? He said in 2005: 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 contraception mentality. In April 2005, Africa had around 13% (around 143 million) of all Catholics worldwide. Benedict (which obscenely means ‘the blessed’) is punishing those that take his teachings literally. I personally know many friends who just ignore it. I am not just talking England here, the people I refer to are in Catholic ‘strongholds’ such as Eire and the USA. What really pisses me off is that we go to enormous lengths to ‘save’ people all over the world in the face of natural disasters. In this case, nobody has the balls to ‘face-off’ the ‘Holy Catholic Church’. I don’t care what people believe. Personally, I think the ten commandments were a piece of pretty badass thinking but as we see everyday Religion, in the wrong hands, is the most divisive and destructive force we humans have so far dreamt up… Barrier contraception must be accepted eventually but the pontiff’s continued procrastination may result in more people being killed than in the holocaust. If the Catholic Church modified their thinking, the problem wouldn’t stop, but even if it saved one child’s life, wouldn’t it be worth it? 5 comments Martin on 23/05/08 at 0510 hours Well said. There is also the practice of teaching school children this policy although it’s done under the guise of teaching them about pregnacy health care. This is done by people who are blinded by these infallible teachings and who really should know better. The Catholic Church has a long history of getting it wrong: Inquisitions, neglecting to help Jews during WW2, contraception, ordination of women priests, the profoundly abhorrent ignorance of thousands of children molested at the hands of priests (neglect being a form of abuse). The list goes one for the worlds first and wealthiest conglomerates (or is that pyramid scheme?). Simon Campbell on 23/05/08 at 0639 hours Martin. Thanks for this. I agree but the same can be said for any leader and/or organisation that is all powerful. Lord Acton really said it all. In 1870 came the great crisis in Roman Catholicism over Pope Pius IX’s promulgation of the dogma of papal infallibility. Acton made his most famous pronouncement in a letter wrote to Bishop Mandell Creighton in April 1887: “I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption, it is the other way, against the holders of power, increasing as the power increases. Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” Simonski E on 19/03/09 at 1246 hours Simonski, It seems the Vatican has changed it’s mind - The Times (19/03/08) - Page 11. Also apparently, if you can be arsed to look, on th Vatican website Blimey theres a turn up for the books. I will take a look at this mate. Change can only be good in this area… Samantha on 05/05/09 at 1631 hours I feel so bad for this little kid he looks like he could of got some help but no one would want to get help. He looks so bad in this.