Not too late, but time is running out

The HIV/AIDS world is still generating news, which is in itself a good thing, since it points to the prominence of the disease and the concern it inspires. Unfortunately, however, what is prompting me to pen these lines is rather less positive.

Back in late January this year, I saw this headline in the newspaper Le Monde (2004): “AIDS: The Vatican declares war on the laboratories”. My first reaction was to start reading the article enthusiastically, by my optimism was short-lived: I soon came across an argument which, though perhaps well-meaning in intent, I would nonetheless regard as rather unfortunate, coming as it does from that particular institution, and in the light of the stances it has repeatedly upheld in connection with the disease and its prevention. For indeed, accusing the pharmaceutical industry of ‘genocide’ in Africa on account of the high prices charged for triple-drug therapy is something that many of us could easily find ourselves agreeing with, and all the more so if the accusation can be extended to include other ways of failure to provide assistance, such as the systematic non-fulfilment of the United Nations’ “Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS” (UN: 2001), a declaration which is constantly being ignored by many (rich) countries. Yet as Tincq (2004) so rightly says, “this is an area in which the Church is not in a good position to convince others. Since last Thursday [the day of the statement], [the Church] has been criticised for opposing disease-prevention campaigns in Africa on account of its customary opposition to the use of contraceptives”.

This opposition, which dates back to the early days of the disease and the prevention campaigns, is still being hammered home insistently whenever the occasion arises. So it was that at the presentation of the Spanish Church’s Family Guidelines on 2 February, the Spanish Synod, presided over by Antonio Rouco Varela, went even further and linked a so-called ‘sexual revolution’ with domestic violence (Domingo: 2004). Similarly, Rouco Varela condemns the “supposed moral neutrality” under which our teenagers are offered a whole range of “information campaigns fostering the false slogan of ‘safe sex’, this being taken to mean sexual relations with contraceptives; in fact the campaigns are resolutely inciting young people to precocious promiscuity entailing the gravest of psychological repercussions, since it hinders reaching maturity and the integration of sexuality” (Domingo: 2004). This argument strikes me as being just as unacceptable as saying that recommending or enforcing the use of safety belts in cars incites drivers to drive recklessly. The adjective ‘precocious’ used in connection with promiscuity, also makes me smile: are we to conclude that whether ‘promiscuity’ is a good thing or an evil thing depends, for the cardinal, on whether it is ‘precocious’ or ‘late’? Obviously, the answer is to be found in the context from which the statement is made and in the atavistic blindness and deafness of the catholic institution to everything to do with human sexuality outside the purely procreative realm.

It must once more be recalled that through such attitudes the Catholic Church is fostering that very ‘genocide’ of which the pharmaceutical industry stands accused by the Vatican.

On the occasion of the preparations for the coming of the third millennium, Pope John Paul II said, amongst other things, “Hence it is appropriate that as the second millennium of Christianity draws to a close the Church should become more fully conscious of the sinfulness of her children, recalling all those times in history when they departed from the spirit of Christ and his Gospel and, instead of offering to the world the witness of a life inspired by the values of faith, indulged in ways of thinking and acting which were truly forms of counterwitness and scandal” (Wojtyla, 1994). The Pope, in a gesture that is commendable in him and in the Institution of which he is the visible head, offered apologies for the errors (counterwitnesses) committed. Further on he adds, “Another painful chapter of history to which the sons and daughters of the Church must return with a spirit of repentance is that of the acquiescence given, especially in certain centuries, to intolerance and even the use of violence in the service of truth” (Wojtyla, 1994).

In the light of these words, would it not be a good thing to ask ourselves if, with regard to the HIV/AIDS issue, the Catholic Church may be making an error of judgement? If this were the case, it is not out of order to envisage how, perhaps at the end of this millennium, the Sovereign Pontiff of the day may voice repentance in an apostolic letter for the errors made – the errors being made today. In the meantime, we cannot ignore the suffering facing thousands of human beings. Apologising is in no way a humiliation – rather, it adds to the dignity of he who acknowledges his mistakes. The fact is, nevertheless, that seeking pardon and showing repentance in matters such as the struggle against AIDS cannot repair the suffering and death. It is not too late, but time is running out.

While apologies are important, it is still more important to remain vigilant regarding mistakes that may be made and that could be avoided.
Esteban Pont Barceló.
Barcelona, February 2004

_______________________________________________________

References:
- Domingo, O. (2004): “Los obispos vinculan la revolución sexual con el aumento de la violencia doméstica”. In the newspaper La Vanguardia, 03-02-2004. Barcelona.
- Le Monde (2004): “Sida: le Vatican déclare la guerre aux laboratoires”. Le Monde, 30-01-2004. Paris.
- UNO (2001): Resolution. Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS The United Nations (8th plenary meeting, 27 June). Document A/RES/S-26-2. New York.
- Tincq, H. (2004): “Mal placée”. Le Monde, 3-01-2004. Paris.
- Wojtyla, Karol. J – John Paul II: (1994) Tertio Millennio Adveniente. Apostolic Letter. www.vatican.va


Esteban Pont Barceló: Doctor of Philosophy (Education Sciences Department) from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). University Lecturer in Applied Teacher Training at the UAB. Education Adviser to the University Nursing School of Santa Madrona of “la Caixa” Foundation. Visiting lecturer at a number of European and Latin-American universities. Member of the ICMH (International Centre for Migrations and Health – Geneva (Switzerland) Director of the AMAS research project – Multidisciplinary Approach to tackling AIDS – “la Caixa” Foundation, Barcelona 2002.

Latest articles

List of recent articles published