As media lashing continues, Harvard scientist backs Pontiff

March 23, 2009

Pope Benedict’s comments on AIDS and condoms continued to garner criticism from editorial pages and health officials. Calling the pope “absolutely and unequivocally wrong,” Guyana's Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy said, “Whilst I would hope that Catholics would continue to be extremely supportive of their Church and the pope ... on this issue, they (should) rely on the evidence, and we need at this time to come out forcefully with the evidence to demonstrate that condoms and lifestyle matter.” However, Dr. Edward Green-- Director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard School of Public Health and Center for Population and Development Studies-- came to the pontiff’s defense, as did some newspaper columnists. “The pope is correct,” said Dr. Green, “or [to] put it a better way, the best evidence we have supports the pope’s comments.”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Green (Harvard): as a liberal, I say the Pope is right (Ilsussidiario.net)
• From Saint Peter’s Square to Harvard Square (National Review Online)
• Harvard Researcher agrees with Pope on condoms in Africa (CNA)
• Finn’s Facts: Politicians have no moral authority to question Pope’s stand on condoms (This Day, Tanzania)
• Jeffrey Kuhner: Cult of the condom (Washington Times)
• Pope's AIDS talk falls flat (Baltimore Sun)
• Condoms do not promote promiscuity (Daily Telegraph)
• Pope needs to stay with the times (Hawkes Bay Today)
• Pope's comments are irresponsible (Marlborough Express)
• Pope’s African condom ban is shameful (Sunday Sun)