Laying Off

I've perhas been a bit... sacreligious? In regards to the impending death of John Paul II. I suppose I should say something good about the man, but if you've so much as turnd on the TV in the last 48 hours, you've already heard the good stuff. A non-anti-semitic pope? Revolutionary! Religious leader opposed atheistic political system? Stunning!

I would like to join in the celebration of his life, but you see, I've got this issue: Sex. Specifically, the Catholic Church's insistence on lying about condoms. I could understand the Church's stand on abortion - if you see it as murder, then duh, you're going to oppose it. What I can't understand is the Church's insistence on lying - lying, which I'm pretty sure is a sin - about the usefulness (one might say necessity) of condoms in fighting HIV in Africa. This needless and ridiculous stance on latex has without question condemned thousands, if not tens of thousands, to an otherwise avoidable death of the worst kind.

Now, I'm not a big fan of the Church's other stands on equality (among women and homosexuals) but frankly, these issues aren't leading to mass death. HIV is, and on this issue, John Paul II is guilty of negligient homicide. Is it the fault of one man? No, but the Pope represents the corporate body of the Church, and the buck stops under his pointy hat.