Scientist: Pope Was Right About AIDS, Affirms Abstinence, Fidelity More Effective than Condoms

RIMINI, Italy, AUG. 27, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The director of Harvard's AIDS Prevention Research Project is affirming that Benedict XVI's position was right in the debate on AIDS and condoms.

Edward Green stated this in an address at the 30th annual Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini, sponsored by the lay movement, Communion and Liberation.

Green, an expert on AIDS prevention, said that "as a scientist he was amazed to see the closeness between what the Pope said last March in Cameroon and the results of the most recent scientific discoveries."

He affirmed: "The condom does not prevent AIDS. Only responsible sexual behavior can address the pandemic." [well, let's wait for the "scientific rebuttal" of those who are pro condoms.]

Green continued, "When Benedict XVI said that different sexual behavior should be adopted in Africa, because to put trust in condoms does not serve to fight against AIDS, the international press was scandalized." [But that is their whole point!  They do not want to change their sexual behavior!]

The Pope made this statement in a meeting with journalists en route to Africa last March.

The scientist affirmed that the Holy Father spoke the truth. He noted, "The condom can work for particular individuals, but it will not serve to address the situation of a continent."

Green added: "To propose the regular use of the condom as prevention in Africa could have the opposite effect."

He explained the phenomenon of human behavior called "risk compensation," whereby a person "feels protected and thus exposes himself more."

The researcher and medical anthropologist asked: "Why has an attempt not been made to change people's customs?" [the customs being changed are those that are pro-life, pro-family and pro-morality!  The Obama-change hype Fr. Jenkins of ND wants us all to "engage" (leaves a bad taste in the mouth everytime I say that.)]

"The world industry has taken many years to understand that measures of a technical and medical character are of no use to solve the problem," he added. [sometimes, it all depends on the person.]

Green highlighted the successful policies that have been implemented in Uganda to battle AIDS, programs based in the "ABC" strategy: "Abstain, Be faithful, and, as a last resource, use a Condom." [as a last resort!  but most of the time, it becomes the only option.  why?  don't want to abstain...don't want to be faithful.]

He reported: "In the case of Uganda, an impressive result has been obtained in the fight against AIDS."

"The president was able to tell the truth to his people, to young people, that on occasions some sacrifice, abstinence and fidelity are necessary.' [In a hedonistic society, the last thing they'll ever listen to is sacrifice.  My rights, what I want are all that matter.  Well, even the Catholic Church suffers from "sacrifice-deafness".  Go to a Sunday Mass and all you hear is "Meal of Love"!]

"The result has been formidable."

"Zee!  I zold you!"