Gates vs the Pope?

[LazyGun]

I will be very interested to see the Vaticans response to this latest campaign by the Gates Foundation.

All women should have full rights over reproduction, including contraception, and its about time religions recognised that.

http://www.guardian.c...vatican-contraception

[Duncer]

The slight problem I can foresee is inculcating a condom wearing culture among the men in Africa.

[emmie]

Duncer, me too, that is often where the problem lies. If the men won't wear a condom, and don't like their women folk to take the pill, then there's a problem. I agree with what she says, never can understand any religion determining the size of your family, after all they are not the ones raising them, taking care of them, or paying for them.

[humbersloop]

there was a good discussion on yesterday's Woman's Hour about this yesterday, which also covered implant availability and the need to develop contraception that also offers HIV resistance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kknt6

Lg, I think papa Ratzinger's on a loser with this one and more power to Melinda Gates.

[sandyRoe]

If there was such a thing as secular sainthood the Gates would be high on the list for beatification. Good on them.

[jno]

I don't think the pope can actually stop people (it's not just women) using contraception, except perhaps in the Vatican; he can only preach at them not to do it. Gates can preach at them to do it, and good luck to her.

[whiskeryron]

I have known about this method of contraception for years

1 Paracetamol gripped very firmly between the knees.

WR

[jno]

would they be entitled to have a feast day, sandyRoe? Perhaps the day Microsoft drove Netscape out of business.

[sandyRoe]

God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. Perhaps Microsoft was allowed to make so much money in order that part of it could be given to good causes.
What about 1 January as Pearly Gates Day?

[Duncer]

em10, I tend to find that churches aren't remotely interested in raising them, taking care of them, or paying for them, just indoctrinating them.

Show me the boy..........

[jno]

perhaps that's true, and the Netscape staff were necessary sacrifices. At any rate, it's nice to see wealthy people using their money to do good. It seems to happen more in the USA than here, but maybe they just make more noise about it there. They also have more money there, which is all to the good.

Do you think they could intercede for me if I prayed to Steve Jobs?

[humbersloop]

^^^^ sorry, a really good discussion with Melinda Gates yesterday.

And her attitude was broadly, yes, I'm a catholic, so?

[Duncer]

Pray for me too jno - I'd like a new kitchen and some spending money for Vienna.

Not that I'm superficial and facile.

[sandyRoe]

Good for her. Brave as she is, I wonder if she'd dare face the Stygian pit that is R&S here in AB?

[Mosaic]

In times to come this stance on contraception will be treated like the excommunication threats made to Galileo. But it will need old Ratso to move on and join the choirs invisible before the change can start to take place.

[humbersloop]

sandy, I'd put my own folding money on Mrs G in a pub fight, never mind R&S- that woman's got do not mess hardwired in her dna.

And for all the microsoft empire is surely satan's work, at least one his supreme acolytes seems to be determined to spend hefty cuts of her personal ill-gotten gains pragmatically, on humanity.

[Duncer]

I'm blaming the Moretti for this.

At least ABer's will get a break tomorrow as I'm off ot London to see Soundgarden.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6C2hHKJxok

[naomi24]

She's a practising Roman Catholic - but it seems she's wavering towards common sense. The Catholic church have kept poor people poor for long enough. Good for her!

[wildwood]

Anyone who stray from their religious teachings is only a pseudo-religionist. If the Pope was to advocate empowering woman to take charge of their own body, it would be seen as the Church contradicting itself.

It would be so nice to see more women make positive and sensible decisions about their family, especially those in poor countries. Freedom for all!