Catholic Church: On trial in a BBC debate

Hot on the heels of that news report coming from the European Union (EU) that banned the showing of the crucifix in public schools and buildings in Italy, last Sunday evening, I watched a replay on BBC TV of the Intelligence Squared Debate in Westminster, London on the topic “Is the Catholic Church a Force for Good in the World.” That forum gave us an idea of how most people from London have so badly misunderstood the Catholic Church and I’m sure this goes for most of the countries belonging to the EU.

Speaking for the side of the Catholic Church was Arch. John Onaivekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria and Member of Parliament Anne Widdecombe, a conservative and a Catholic convert, while those against were famous Atheists, Mr. Christopher Hitchens, author of the book God is not Great and Stephen Fry, an actor and comedian, and the forum was anchored by Zeinab Badawi, a BBC anchor. For those who missed the show and are interested in viewing excerpts of that show, you can check out these following websites, www.intelligencesquared.com or www.bbcworldnews.com.

That BBC sponsored debate was virtually putting the Catholic Church on trial, pitting an Archbishop from Nigeria and a recent convert to Catholicism to defend the Catholic Church against the tirades of atheists like Hitchens and Stephen Fry, especially on the use of condoms, where Mr. Fry questioned why the Catholic Church warns the users of condoms that their continued use have instead increased the risk of their getting AIDS. Stephen Fry came out with his ABC on AIDS prevention, A for Abstinence, B for Be Faithful and C for Condoms. Alas, the defenders of the Catholic Church had no great answers to queries on condoms, women priests and homosexuality.

If I were to answer Mr. Fry, I would have quoted Prof. Edward Green, a Protestant Director of Harvard’s AIDS Prevention Research Project who apparently defended Pope Benedict XVI who said during his recent visit to Africa, “Condom distribution is not the solution to AIDS, on the contrary they worsen it.” This Papal statement was chastised by so many who insist that condoms have helped prevent AIDS.

However, Prof. Green pointed out in a statement he wrote in the Washington Post, “The Pope is basically right — about Africa. There is no evidence at all that condoms have worked as a public health prevention intended to reduce HIV infections, at the “level of population.” I first wrote about putting emphasis on fidelity instead of condoms, in the book AIDS in Africa in 1988. Condoms fail because people do not use them consistently, because they are not used once people get to know someone, and because they provide a false sense of security, allowing people to take greater risks than they would take if condoms were not used at all. Interventions like promoting faithfulness work better. Prof. Green explained the phenomenon of human behavior called “Risk Compensation” whereby a person “feels protected” thus exposes himself more to the problem.

Unfortunately before the start of the Intelligence 2 Debates on the motion whether “Is the Catholic Church a Force for Good in the World” those who attended that debate voted 678 for the motion, 1102 voted against while 346 didn’t know. After the debate, only 268 were for the motion, while 1876 voted against, and 34 still didn’t know. No doubt, the Catholic Church lost in that debate against atheists shown on the BBC last Sunday.

It just makes me wonder, what if people like Stephen Fry came out on a debate and chastising the Ayatollahs of Iran? I’m sure, he’d never dare do that because he could end up as the next Salman Rushdie who wrote the book on “Satanic Verses” and thus, the Muslim extremists have been hunting him for many years now. It is easy for Mr. Fry to attack the Pope and the Catholic Church because they really embrace the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ who said in Matt.5:39, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, show him your left cheek as well.”

Catholicism is undoubtedly a very tolerant religion, especially the Freedom of Speech which is why atheists are having fun making fun of and insulting her. Even here at home, while the Philippines can claim to be 90% Catholic, however in practice I doubt if there’s half the number who are truly practicing Catholics who obey the Magisterium of the Church?

A case in point is Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. We know that he is the co-author of the highly controversial Reproductive Health Bill, yet he hasn’t changed his stand on this despite the fact that the Catholic Church that supported his mother for the Presidency would no longer support him. Noynoy would rather negotiate with convicted Erap rather than appease the Catholic Church to get the votes that could make him the next President.

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