Posted 3/18/2009 05:57:00 PM by Douglas

Two interesting, yet diametrically opposed articles about black people with AIDS. One from Houston, Texas, where a man of the cloth encourages his people to get tested and use protection.

“Are you ready for me to change your life in 20 minutes?” he asks during the monthly “Get Tested Sunday.”

He reminds congregants to pay attention to HIV — a preventable infection racing through Houston’s black community mostly via unprotected sex.

Pastor Rudy Rasmus made the fight against HIV a part of his ministry 15 years ago after “too many funeral service requests for young people who died” from AIDS complications. Today, the church offers HIV testing, homeless services and other outreach through the nonprofit Bread of Life.

“What’s the next step after you take this test?” David asks before the finger prick for a speck of blood or a mouth swab to capture oral fluid. The results show up within 20 minutes.

During counseling, David asks women and men about “condom negotiation skills” — reducing risks with reluctant partners.

Interesting. I don't think anyone is touting a condom as anything more than a way to "reduce the risk" of transmitting the disease, but hey, every little bit helps, right? Right?!? Well, no. Not if you're the spiritual leader of two thirds of the world's Christians, speaking to the poorest continent on earth and the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic. To him, condoms still make god angry.

However, the Church's concern about condoms is only part of wider teaching aimed at allowing people to live better, more fulfilled lives.

It believes that encouraging people to use condoms to minimise the worst effects of behaviour that in itself impoverishes their lives is to fail them.

Pope Benedict put it this way not long after he took office in 2005. He told African bishops that contraception was among trends leading to a breakdown in sexual morality.

"It is of great concern that the fabric of African life, its very source of hope and stability, is threatened by divorce, abortion, prostitution, human trafficking and a contraception mentality."

Huh? News flash, Popey McFunnyhat, people don't screw each other because they want AIDS. Hell, most don't even screw each other because they want a baby. If you want to pull out (sorry, bad pun) the standard Catholic stance about why contraception is wrong (because God will decide when you're ready to be a parent) then I guess it's not that difficult to extrapolate that God will decide when you're ready to get HIV, too.

It's all part of God's Will and your sinful, sinful ways.

So don't bother baggin' it, Africa, just keep dying! Maybe you'll hear some cool words in Latin as you draw your last breath that gives you some kind of solace.