Archbishop claims condoms supplied infected with HIV

**Trooth** · 27 Sep 07,, 00:25

Shock at archbishop condom claim

The head of the Catholic Church in Mozambique has told the BBC he believes some European-made condoms are infected with HIV deliberately.
Maputo Archbishop Francisco Chimoio claimed some anti-retroviral drugs were also infected "in order to finish quickly the African people".

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Shock at archbishop condom claim

Aye, why use a condom when you can wear a tinfoil-hat instead.

**gunnut** · 27 Sep 07,, 00:32

Maputo Archbishop Francisco Chimoio claimed some anti-retroviral drugs were also infected "in order to finish quickly the African people".

I guess we aren't doing a very good job at it. There are more Africans now than ever before, enjoying increased quality of life. There are some trouble spots, but overall Africa has improved.

The average African woman gave birth to 7 live young during her lifetime a few hundred years ago, just like today. The infant mortality has decreased from 5 to 2.

**wabpilot** · 27 Sep 07,, 01:13

Originally Posted by gunnut

I guess we aren't doing a very good job at it. There are more Africans now than ever before, enjoying increased quality of life. There are some trouble spots, but overall Africa has improved.

The average African woman gave birth to 7 live young during her lifetime a few hundred years ago, just like today. The infant mortality has decreased from 5 to 2.

I am reminded of Earl Butz, Secretary of Agriculture and Professor at Purdue University who said of the Pope's stance on birth control: "He no playa the game, he no maka the rules."

**gunnut** · 27 Sep 07,, 02:08

Originally Posted by wabpilot

I am reminded of Earl Butz, Secretary of Agriculture and Professor at Purdue University who said of the Pope's stance on birth control: "He no playa the game, he no maka the rules."

I believe that is THL's current sig.

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**Bigfella** · 27 Sep 07,, 14:58

Unfortunately Catholic clergy in Africa have been spreading lies about condoms for years. It looks like they have now taken the step from saying condoms don't work to actually blaming them for HIV. The Church has also used its influence to try to stop governments & NGOs from promoting condom use.

Apparently the Church puts its own discredited teachings on birth control ahead of the health, safety & ultimately the lives of its believers. Unfortunately this is par for the course, though no less appalling for it.

**jame$thegreat** · 29 Sep 07,, 23:28

Originally Posted by gunnut

The average African woman gave birth to 7 live young during her lifetime a few hundred years ago, just like today. The infant mortality has decreased from 5 to 2.

But who is telling them to have so damn many kids? That is the root of many of their problems.

**crooks** · 30 Sep 07,, 20:43

Ah the Church - bane of the Irish, and the Mozambiqians as well it would seem - I'd advise them to do what we do, just do what YOU want, then say a hail mary afterwards

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**dalem** · 30 Sep 07,, 22:09

Originally Posted by crooks

Ah the Church - bane of the Irish, and the Mozambiqians as well it would seem - I'd advise them to do what we do, just do what YOU want, then say a hail mary afterwards

.

I think that this instance is less of a Church problem, and more of an African problem.

-dale

**Trooth** · 01 Oct 07,, 14:48

Originally Posted by dalem

I think that this instance is less of a Church problem, and more of an African problem.

-dale

The Archibishop is just a good catholic pushing his dogma, remember "every sperm is sacred" and as the church loves a bit of fear to snap the believers into line, why not make up some more nonsense?

It's not so much a church problem as the church is the problem.

**glyn** · 01 Oct 07,, 17:28

Originally Posted by Trooth

The Archibishop is just a good catholic pushing his dogma, remember "every sperm is sacred" and as the church loves a bit of fear to snap the believers into line, why not make up some more nonsense?

It's not so much a church problem as the church is the problem.

Ain't that the truth! I expect high ranking clergy to lie.

Most of those I have met have been lacking in intelligence and yet they accuse atheists like me of being evil and working to a 'hidden agenda'. I relish being called the AntiChrist by a het-up loony.

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**crooks** · 01 Oct 07,, 19:37

Originally Posted by dalem

I think that this instance is less of a Church problem, and more of an African problem.

-dale

The Church is spreading crap about condoms to prevent widespread use - the continent just happens to be Africa, what difference would it make if it was South America or Asia?

Rome should be ashamed of itself for allowing this to happen (and I stood up for some stuff the Church has done that was unpopular, The Holy See's comments on Islam, for example).

**dalem** · 01 Oct 07,, 19:57

Originally Posted by Trooth

The Archibishop is just a good catholic pushing his dogma, remember "every sperm is sacred" and as the church loves a bit of fear to snap the believers into line, why not make up some more nonsense?

It's not so much a church problem as the church is the problem.

No, it's yet another African pushing his ignorance of modern science. He's not saying condoms are bad, he's claiming the condoms are deliberately infected with a disease. He's a loon.

-dale

**Bigfella** · 01 Oct 07,, 22:14

Originally Posted by dalem

No, it's yet another African pushing his ignorance of modern science. He's not saying condoms are bad, he's claiming the condoms are deliberately infected with a disease. He's a loon.

-dale

He may be a loon, but he is doing what Catholic clergy in Africa have been doing for over 2 decades - lying to their congregations about condoms. While the claim is new, it forms part of a pattern of church behaviour. The Church would rather its paritioners obedient & dead rather than have them break the rules & use a condom.

Distrust of western science, medicine & medical practitioners is not peculiar to Africa. Nor, sadly, is it entirely without foundation. Drug companies using people for experiments & the purchasing of blood & organs have unfortunately helped to fuel this distrust. Doesn't excuse the bishop, however.

**Zinja** · 02 Oct 07,, 00:43

"... ... some anti-retroviral drugs were also infected "in order to finish quickly the African people".

Why do the Africans keep thinking that the west is out there to 'get them'? This mentality is going to confine Africa to poverty for a good long time to come. It is these such 'peddlers of falsehood' African leaders who have stood in the way of development for Africa by feeding people with unti-west propaganda. They have all believed the lie of Mugabe, shocking!!

**gunnut** · 02 Oct 07,, 06:20

Originally Posted by jame$thegreat

But who is telling them to have so damn many kids? That is the root of many of their problems.

Actually no one. That's just their tradition. It was necessary to replace the loss and ensure the continuation of the family/tribe/species.

The problem is the west decreased the infant mortality rate through technology without introducing the education needed to decrease birth rate. So we have the irony of lower infant mortality rate, longer life span, but more misery due to frequent warfare for very limited resources.