Pope Benedict XVI is an Idiot

Now that the feathers have been ruffled, here's why: 

Pope Tells Africa 'condoms wrong'

Pope Benedict XVI, who is making his first papal visit to Africa, has said that handing out condoms is not the answer in the fight against HIV/Aids. The pontiff, who preaches marital fidelity and abstinence, said the practice only increased the problem." A Christian can never remain silent," he said, after being greeted on arrival in Cameroon by President Paul Biya. The Pope is also due to visit Angola on his week-long trip, where thousands are expected to attend open-air Masses. Some 22 million people are infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UN figures for 2007. This amounts to about two-thirds of the global total.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7947460.stm

It's things like this that take my tolerance for the church as an institution from minimal to nil. I used to feel that "Okay, let people believe what they want, as long as it's not imposed on me." When I read such utterly idiotic and patently false rhetoric, though, that moderate position decays into bile in my gut. I'm perfectly aware that not all members of the Catholic church share this position- I'm very close friends with very charitable, kind and progressive Catholics. Nonetheless, the papacy, by exploiting the (non-consensual) support in numbers and money of even these moderate, temperate followers, is able to preach outright lies, slander an entire body of reliable scientific research, and worst of all, endanger the well being of an entire continent grappling with one of the most serious public health issues in history. This is not love for your fellow man. This is not compassion, charity and union with all peoples. This is complete fabrication, manipulation and propaganda. In a word, this is bull shit. I don't really know what to say beyond that- it seems impossible to think of any way to effectively challenge such a powerful institution. That said, if the opportunity should arise, take it. Don't let these words pass unnoticed- write to local and student papers, participate in protests, do what you can to make sure this liar is brought to account for spreading such shit.