Pope 'distorting condom science'

[steven johnson]

Source: BBC

One of the world's most prestigious medical journals, the Lancet, has accused Pope Benedict XVI of distorting science in his remarks on condom use.

It said the Pope's recent comments that condoms exacerbated the problem of HIV/Aids were wildly inaccurate and could have devastating consequences. The Pope had said the "cruel epidemic" should be tackled through abstinence and fidelity rather than condom use.

Correspondents say the attack from the Lancet was unprecedentedly virulent. But the London-based Lancet said the Pope had "publicly distorted scientific evidence to promote Catholic doctrine on this issue". It said the male latex condom was the single most efficient way to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV/Aids.

"Whether the Pope's error was due to ignorance or a deliberate attempt to manipulate science to support Catholic ideology is unclear," said the journal. But is said the comment still stood and urged the Vatican to issue a retraction.


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7967173.stm

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Religious distortions of science do a disservice to both science and religion. They initially mislead the public about science in tangible ways and eventually make people distrust religion.