At a time when 25 million in Africa have died of AIDS, and at least another 3 million are infected, I think it's reprehensible that Pope Benedict condemned the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa.

AIDS in Africa is virtually 100% heterosexually spread through intimate contact. No gays, no needles. It's spread by the milennium old sexual customs of millions of tribespeople. Women are helpless to stop becoming infected because even if they are monogamous and HIV negative, their husbands need not be so.

Other than prolonging a rigid, un-Godly ideology that until only recently advocated burning hundred of thousands at the stake, there is no compassionate or logical reason to condemn the use of condoms by a married couple in a monogamous relationship where one partner is infected.

Benedict could have been courageous and taken the Church where it should be- helping to heal the sick by preventing illness in the first place.

To make this ideology even more absurd, the Pope reiterated his stand against saving the life of a mother under any circumstances, even when the pregnancy directly threatens her life. You can tell that decision was made by a male!

The Church ought to adhere to an ethic of Life that is not trampled on by ideologues of high stature or rooted in medieval superstition, whose exercise of power now officially contributes to the death of millions. The pope's actions will result in more African deaths than all the blood diamond conflicts in Africa combined.