[started 03/21/09 --- 03/25/11 UPDATE: Petition still open, links still hot. Text in the Letter Box and comments here go nowhere from here - need to go to the Avaaz site.]

Pope Benedict's statement this week that condoms may aggravate the AIDS epidemic is putting millions at risk. Sign the petition to stop this dangerous misinformation!
Take Action Now
This week, on his first visit to Africa, Pope Benedict said that "[AIDS] cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems".
The Pope's statement is a huge setback to decades of hard work on AIDS prevention, education and awareness. With powerful influence over more than 1.1 billion Catholics in the world, and with 22 million HIV positive Africans, these words could dramatically affect the AIDS pandemic and put millions of lives at risk. Worldwide pressure on the Vatican is starting to show results - sign our urgent petition asking the Pope to immediately stop speaking out against condoms:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/pope_benedict_petition
Everyone is entitled to their own religious and personal beliefs, and the Pope does advocate for other AIDS prevention methods such as abstinence and monogamy. But he holds enormous moral authority for millions, and the claim that condom distribution could make AIDS worse is spreading false information. It's untrue, and it's deadly.
The fact is, HIV and AIDS are prevented by condom use. There is no easy solution to the spread of this tragic disease, but condoms and education are the best known prevention combination and have not been found to increase risky sexual behaviour. That is why even priests and nuns working in Africa have questioned the Pope's misleading statements.
We may not be able to ask the Catholic Church to change its broader position, but we are asking the Pope to stop actively speaking out against prevention strategies that work. It's important that people of all beliefs, especially Catholics, show that they do not approve of the Pope’s dangerous statements. Sign below then spread the word to your friends and family - this petition could actually save lives:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/pope_benedict_petition
25 million people worldwide have already died of AIDS, and 12 million children have been left without parents. If enough of us join this outcry now, we could win an important battle in the struggle for a world without AIDS.

With hope,

Alice, Ben, Graziela, Ricken, Iain, Brett, Paula, Pascal, Luis, Paul, Veronique, Milena and the whole Avaaz team

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Sources:

The Pope's statement opposing condoms (BBC):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7951839.stm

European governments criticise Pope Benedict for his statement
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7950671.stm

Condoms 'aggravate' AIDS scourge, Pope says:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=1399781

CNN Report on the Pope’s anti-condom position:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhxqvVmgEbg&feature=related

Vatican retraction of condom statement:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5934912.ece

Growth of the Catholic Church in Africa, see:
http://www.zenit.org/article-18894?l=english and http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29777984/

South African Bishop supporting condom use:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29777984/

UNAIDS Report on the AIDS epidemic:
http://www.unaids.org/en/CountryResponses/Regions/default.asp

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From: "Alice Jay - Avaaz.org"
Date: 21 марта 2009 г. 11:44