What Human Rights?

[Thumpalumpacus]

Forgive my disagreement, but I think that the Vatican has behaved wrongly in addressing the issue of AIDS in Africa. If they are "villainized", might they not review their policies in order to prioritize life over ideology?

Simply assuming that their morality is by fiat correct, and thereby aiding the deaths of hundreds of thousands, is not a sufficient answer for me.

Be aware, I don't think that the Catholic Church is the only Christian organization that has abused the people on that continent; we know already how American Protestant churches have pushed for laws against homosexuality that are extremely onerous.  I'm not singling out your church for its failings. But I am pointing out that by my own lights, human life should always take precedence over church doctrine.

You're free to disagree, of course. But you'll need to have some good ammo in your locker to change my mind. Lives are always more important than doctrine.

I understand what you're saying. 

In reference to the bolded, I think it's not that these Catholics who are out there helping believe "Church doctrine" is more important than human life, but rather, it's that they believe following Church doctrine will ultimately save more lives. Which it would, if it were actually followed. IF being the key word there, of course. It get's really complicated when it's difficult to remain abstinent to all but one monogamous life partner. On one hand, the Church wants to promote something that would ultimately be the best thing, on the other hand, most people will ignore it and sleep around anyway.

The thing is, Catholics pointedly argue that human nature is flawed, that we are fallen, and prone to failure -- and yet rather than use a process that takes those same elements of doctrine into account, they demand that humans be perfectly abstinent. It's clearly a matter of talking out both sides of their mouths. If they truly believed that humans were not able to meet your god's requirements, what, exactly, is wrong with at least saving the lives of those who -- just like you -- are fallen and failed?

You vehemently disagree with their decision to keep promoting monogamy instead of passing out condoms, but I think it's important to at least acknowledge that their intentions seem to genuinely be in the best interest of the Africans they are trying to help. These are not evil people.

I've never called your church authorities evil. But the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. They may wish the best for the church-goers they serve, but they clearly do them a disservice by lying to them, and you should be criticizing them for doing that, rather than defending them.

They are advertising that condoms = death. That is bullshit, you know it, and you should be speaking out against it. Letting doctrine take precedence over lives is obnoxious, and you're better than that.