Sex and sensibility: The Pope in Africa

The Pope visited Africa the other week, taking tours of Cameroon and Angola. While the Pope is usually welcomed warmly on the continent, many did not take kindly to his views on condom use and AIDS. Says the Economist, "He suggested the disease could be beaten through chastity, abstinence and “correct behaviour”. Speaking in a continent where more than 20m people have died from AIDS and another 22.5m are infected with HIV, his statement sounded otherworldly at best, and crass and uncaring at worst". The position that Benedict stated goes against what many leaders have been trying to promote in their struggle to help solve the AIDS problem. I feel that the church needs to change their position on this view and use their visibility to help end the AIDS crisis.