Abstinence saves lives
FREE Catholic Classes
It's time to go on offense. The church has a life-giving answer to the AIDS epidemic. Condom-promoters are the ones who are clinging to a ridiculous, discredited dogma at the cost of innocent lives.
Look at Africa. Nearly every country on the continent has vigorously promoted condoms to stem the tide of the AIDS epidemic there. And every one of them has failed to stop the epidemic - even slow it down, much.
One African nation - Uganda - on the other hand has experienced the greatest decline in HIV prevalence of any country in the world, reports the Heritage Foundation.
Studies show that from 1991 to 2001 HIV infection rates in Uganda declined from about 15 percent to 5 percent.
"The Ugandan model has the most to teach the rest of the world," said Edward Green, a senior research scientist at Harvard and author of Rethinking AIDS Prevention. "This policy should guide the development of programs in Africa and the Caribbean."
Jeff Spieler, chief of the research division in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) population office, states, "It just happens to be where the evidence is pointing."
The Ugandan model was to emphasize that abstaining from sex outside of marriage was the only effective way for most people to reduce exposure to AIDS. Social scientist Joe Loconte says that there are four lessons that Uganda taught the world, if it's willing to learn them:
1. High-risk sexual behaviors can be discouraged and replaced by healthier lifestyles.
2. Abstinence and marital fidelity appear to be the most important factors in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
3. Condoms do not play the primary role in reducing HIV/AIDS transmission. Uganda's program did offer condoms as a last resort, mostly for high-risk groups. Abstinence was exclusively promoted for young people - and it worked.
4. Religious organizations are key in the fight against AIDS.
And yet the prevailing opinion of many cultural elites continues to be that condoms are the answer.
It should be obvious why they're wrong.
Imagine that roller coaster operators decided to remove all of the safety bars from their rides. Instead, they decided simply to post a notice that said: "Practice safe roller-coastering! Bring a belt and strap yourself into your seat. Warning: If you fail to, you may get hurt, or even die!"
What would happen? Kids would die. Parents would be outraged. No one would expect every teen out to have a good time at an amusement park to have enough forethought and self-restraint to turn back at the roller coaster's turnstile and go procure a safety belt. If governments responded by giving out roller coaster safety belts at schools, parents wouldn't be satisfied.
And yet, when it comes to "safe sex," too many people are happy with the sign-at-the turnstile approach.
Teens live in a world where sex is promoted on television, in movies and in music. Yet, a worldwide epidemic of venereal diseases means that sexual activity can make people sick, or, in the case of AIDS, kill them.
It makes no sense simply to tell teens to remember to use a condom. Teens are rarely responsible enough to make their beds every morning. Why do we expect that, in the heat of passion, after we have given our tacit approval to premarital sex, they will use a condom?
The more effective method is to start telling people that sex isn't healthy - physically, morally or emotionally - outside of marriage to start with.
That's what Uganda did. The nation's AIDS epidemic turned the corner when its culture began delivering the same message from middle-school classrooms to churches to community seminars and in radio, print and television broadcasts. That message: Save sex for marriage, where it belongs. It's folly to expect to have sex safely any other way in this day and age.
"The effect was to create what researchers call a 'social vaccine' against HIV," wrote Joe Loconte, "a set of cultural values that encouraged more responsible sexual attitudes and behaviors."
As a result, Uganda's Demographic and Health Survey of 2000-2001 found that 93 percent of Ugandans changed their sexual behaviors to avoid AIDS.
Catholics shouldn't be afraid to insist that abstinence is the right answer to the epidemic of venereal diseases worldwide. Ours is the only answer that saves lives.
Contact
National Catholic Register
http://www.ncregister.com
,
- ,
Keywords
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Pope Francis Advises Parish Priests on Fostering a Missionary Church
-
5 Reasons Going To Church Is Important (even on days you feel like you can skip)
-
U.S. Catholic Parishes Experience Resurgence of Traditional Practices
-
Pope Francis Urges Faith and Prayers for Peace
-
Florida Welcomes Volunteer Chaplains to Public Schools
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Friday, May 03, 2024
- St. James the Lesser: Saint of the Day for Friday, May 03, 2024
- Prayer before Starting on a Journey: Prayer of the Day for Friday, May 03, 2024
- Daily Readings for Thursday, May 02, 2024
- St. Athanasius: Saint of the Day for Thursday, May 02, 2024
- The Our Father: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, May 02, 2024
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.