Mr. Minister, how credible is the political organisation that you speak on behalf of?

Mar 24, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
World leaders are once again attacking Pope Benedict XVI, known for his candor. Even our Minister of Health here in Guyana has not stopped short in putting in his two- bit on the debate of the use of condoms in our society.
Issues like this one, abortion, gay marriages, and stem- cell research, among others almost always draw various views and criticisms from governments and religious leaders alike.
There seems to be little or no agreement when it comes to the above-mentioned topics.
The Church in Rome says one thing and the rest of the world says another.

Indeed, though, if human beings had changed their way of thinking and mindsets, HIV/AIDS would not have spread to massive proportions it has spread over decades.
The Roman Catholic Church in Africa — an indeed growing church — deserves special commendation as they have been effective there in spreading the truth about the use of condoms and the spread of this deadly disease. Indeed, the African church has a huge task ahead of it to make the rest of the world understand the importance of lifestyle changes.

The Minister is a representative of a Third- World Government and as such he, too, has his view — though not a religious one. The Pope, a man speaking on behalf of Christ, on earth, has made numerous comments in the past, which have come under heavy criticisms and condemnations. It isn’t surprising though, as this has happened numerous times in the past, when we hear things we do not like to hear or that do not conform to our standards and ethics like the notion of abstaining from sex until marriage.
With the kind of young people we have growing up today, this would be a most impossible task — to abstain. I would also like to ask the honourable Minister to support the Catholic Church in Guyana’s Abstinence programme, which is active and alive.

People must become aware that life can be enjoyed through abstaining from sexual activities until marriage, that condoms are not the only option, that condoms are not even fool proof in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The Pope will say many more things in future, which will be condemned and criticised, even ridiculed in corners of the world. Pope Benedict XVI condemned the Obama Administration’s advancement in stem-cell research last week.

Certainly, though, throughout the Holy Father’s visit to the African nations this past week, we didn’t hear about how he called on rich countries to give more to the poor in Africa, we didn’t hear about his fight for families under attack in Angola, we didn’t hear about his encouraging words and prayers for 20,000 flood victims in Angola who are now homeless, we didn’t hear about his solidarity with the poorest of the poor in Africa and making the world aware that even the poor have rights, we didn’t hear his call for support of Christian-Muslim efforts to defend African values, we didn’t hear the Pope tell the African people that the Gospel and Word of God are the answers to the troubled continent’s problems, we didn’t hear the Pope’s comforting words to the Cameroon people, “You are not alone in your pain, for Christ Himself is close to all who suffer” as he gave spiritual words of encouragement to the people there who were sick with all sorts of illnesses, and certainly we did not hear the Pope’s warning about materialism and erosion of values to the people of Africa.

Some are adamant that they do not need an old man in a “costume” to tell them how to live their sexual lives. Well, we, the people of the world shall pay for being ignorant and hardheaded.
Furthermore, at least the Pope is speaking and continues to speak on behalf of an organisation (The Roman Catholic Church) with 2,000 years of credibility; Mr Minister, how credible is the political organisation that you speak on behalf of?
Leon Jameson Suseran