Kampala, Uganda, Mar 26, 2009 / 12:51 pm
More than a week after the media attacked Pope Benedict XVI for his comments on condoms and AIDS, CNA is still hearing from experts around the world who support Benedict’s evaluation of the African AIDS epidemic. Dr. Filippo Ciantia, a Ugandan specialist in tropical medicine, along with eight other experts says that his experience resonates with the Pope’s statement.
The outcry against the Pope began after he presented the Church’s approach to combating AIDS. The international media zeroed in on a line from Pope Benedict about condoms increasing the problem.
The vast majority of the Pope’s words were dedicated to explaining how the best response to AIDS is to promote a spiritual and human renewal of people’s understanding of sexuality and to be willing to live true sacrificial friendships with those who suffer from AIDS.
On Thursday, CNA received a letter from Dr. Filippo Ciantia, a representative of the Association of Volunteers in International Service and a former USAID policy advisor on HIV/AIDS, along with 8 other Ugandan social and health workers in support of the Pope.
The introduction of the letter follows:
We would like to contribute to the heated debate on the statements of the Holy Father on the AIDS scourge at the press conference granted to journalists during the papal flight en route to Yaoundé, Cameroon.
We are social and health workers committed to [fighting] AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic in Uganda. Our experience indicates that what the Pope said is realistic, reasonable and scientifically sound.
With our letter we would like to enrich the debate with scientific and sound data.
We thank you for the kind attention,
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Sam Orach
Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau
Kampala, Uganda
George William Pariyo
Makerere University School of Public Health
Kampala, Uganda
Rose Busingye
Meeting Point International
Kampala, Uganda
Ronald Kamara
Uganda Catholic Secretariat
Kampala, Uganda
Filippo Ciantia
Association of Volunteers in International Service
Kampala, Uganda
Lawrence Ojom
St Joseph’s Hospital
Kitgum, Uganda
Thomas Odong
Association of Volunteers in International Service
Kitgum, Uganda
Joseph Lokong
Adaktar Uganda Martyrs University
Faculty of Health Sciences
Nkozi, Uganda