Pope anti-protest laws quashed
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By Tony Iltis
July 12, 2008 -- The visit to Sydney for World Youth Day (WYD), July 15-20, by Pope Benedict XVI and 300,000 Catholic pilgrims is set to become the scene for protests. Ironically, the protests are being fuelled by the clumsy efforts of the NSW state Labor Party government to suppress them — passing laws making it illegal to “annoy” pilgrims and defining “annoy” broadly enough to include having signs, or even wearing t-shirts, with messages that the doctrinally rigid pope or his followers disapprove of.
* * *
Sydney
Treatment Action Campaign (South Africa)
On Tuesday 17 March, Pope Benedict XVI visited Cameroon and told
reporters, "You can't resolve with condoms ... On the contrary, it
increases the problem." To view a CNN video clip of the Pope's comments
please click here.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhxqvVmgEbg&feature=related>
The Pope's comments are irresponsible. The evidence that consistent
condom use is effective at reducing the risk of HIV transmission is
incontrovertible. Below we reprint the abstract of a scientific meeting
that analysed 138 peer-reviewed articles to determine the effectiveness
of condoms at reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) including HIV. A key finding of the meeting was that
the results of "longitudinal studies of the sexual partners of
HIV-infected persons indicate that consistent condom use reduces the
risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by approximately 85%."
See also:
* Page 15 of our HIV prevention issue of Equal Treatment
<http://www.tac.org.za/documents/et19.pdf%20>
* An article by The Body.com summarising the evidence on the
efficacy <http://www.thebody.com/content/art17057.html>of condom
<http://www.thebody.com/content/art17057.html>s as an HIV
prevention tool <http://www.thebody.com/content/art17057.html>
* A Center for Disease Control (CDC) factsheet on condom
effectiveness <http://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/latex.htm>
The evidence is considerable that abstinence-only programmes, apparently
favoured by the Pope, are ineffective. The AIDS Research Institute of
the University of California, San Francisco published a monograph in
March 2002 that states:
/An assessment of the peer-reviewed, published research reveals no
evidence that abstinence- only programs delay sexual initiation or
reduce STIs or pregnancy. By contrast, credible research clearly
demonstrates that some comprehensive sex education, or
'abstinence-plus,' programs can achieve positive behavioral changes
among young people and reduce STIs, and that these programs do not
encourage young people to initiate sexual activity earlier or have more
sexual partners. /
The AIDS Research Institute's report can be accessed in full by clicking
here <http://ari.ucsf.edu/science/reports/abstinence.pdf>.
The evidence shows that it is important to distribute condoms and that
it is also important to provide sex education to adolescents that
includes accurate information on how to use condoms (see the second of
the two abstracts below titled "Condom Use Errors and Problems Among
Adolescents").
In Khayelitsha, Cape Town's largest township, TAC activists distribute
in excess of 500,000 condoms every month. A dedicated Khayelitsha
activist is nicknamed the 'Condom King'. As a result, medical officials
in Khayelitsha report that sexually transmitted infections among the
local population have declined. And this is in a poor community with
traditionally high rates of STIs and HIV.
Preaching abstinence to many communities in Africa is alienating and
irrelevant. Many sexual encounters in marginal communities with high
rates of HIV infection are coercive or transactional. In contexts in
which gender inequality is rife, to instruct women to abstain from sex
or to remain faithful to only one partner demonstrates an ignorance of
their sexual realities.
The South African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) is a large
provider of HIV services in South Africa including antiretroviral
treatment. It is concerning that the views of the leader of the Catholic
Church are incongruent with the good work being done by the SACBC.
The following two abstracts mentioned above can be retrieved by
following this link
<http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/MeetingAbstracts/ma?f=102261955.html>.
*Effectiveness of Male Latex Condoms for HIV/STD Prevention:
Workshop Update*
Kanouse DE; National HIV Prevention Conference (2003 : Atlanta, Ga.).
Abstr Book 2003 Natl HIV Prev Conf July 27 30 2003 Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Hotel Atlanta Ga Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 Atlanta Ga. 2003; abstract no.
T1-C1301.
RAND, Santa Monica, CA
*BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:* In June 2000, four federal agencies (U. S.
Agency for International Development, Food and Drug Administration,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of
Health) co-sponsored a workshop to evaluate the published evidence
establishing the effectiveness of male latex condoms in preventing
HIV/AIDS and 7 other STDS.
*METHODS:* The scientific scope of the workshop was limited to the
effectiveness of male latex condoms for use during penile-vaginal
intercourse for reducing the risk of transmission of 8 STDs: HIV
infection, gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, syphilis, chancroid,
trichomoniasis, genital herpes caused by herpes simplex viruses (HSV) 1
and 2, and genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV disease.
Condom effectiveness was defined to mean the level of protection against
STDs when condoms are used correctly and consistently. The panel
examined only peer-reviewed, published articles (n = 138).
*RESULTS:* Male latex condoms were found in laboratory tests to be of
high quality. Viral penetration assays demonstrate that condoms provide
a highly effective barrier against the smallest STD organisms. Data on
condom use suggest that method failure (breakage/slippage) occurs in
about 3% of coital acts and is related to user knowledge and experience.
Studies of the effectiveness of condoms to reduce the risk of
transmission through intercourse are methodologically much stronger for
HIV/AIDS than for other STDs. Results of longitudinal studies of the
sexual partners of HIV-infected persons indicate that consistent condom
use reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by approximately 85%.
Studies on the effectiveness of condom use for preventing transmission
of gonorrhea were limited either by retrospective design, inadequate
measures of condom use, or small sample sizes. However, several studies
demonstrated a protective effect of condoms for men, and the pane l
concluded that collectively these studies demonstrated that consistent
and correct condom use would reduce the risk of gonorrhea for men, with
insufficient evidence available for women. The panel reviewed 12 studies
that addressed condom effectiveness for prevention of chlamydial
infection and found the results inconclusive. One limited study found a
30% reduction in trichomonas infection among women attending an STD
clinic who reported using condoms as a method of contraception, but
further studies are needed to arrive at an accurate assessment of risk
reduction. Limitations in study design or paucity of data prevented the
panel from forming any conclusions regarding the effectiveness of
condoms for HSV 1 or 2, chancroid, or syphilis. For HPV, the panel found
no evidence that condom use reduces the risk of HPV infection, but some
evidence that condom use might reduce the risk of HPV-associated diseases.
*CONCLUSIONS:* Consistent use of male latex condoms reduces risk of HIV
transmission between men and women and reduces the risk of gonorrhea
transmission in men. Recent studies not reviewed by the panel provide
evidence of condom effectiveness against transmission of HSV and
chlamydial infection. These findings can be represented in various ways.
Promoting correct and consistent condom use should be a key part of a
comprehensive prevention strategy that also includes other messages
aimed at reducing STD/HIV incidence.
*Condom Use Errors and Problems Among Adolescents*
Crosby, RA Emory University, Atlanta, GA
*BACKGROUND:* Condom promotion programs delivered to adolescents are a
central feature of public health efforts to reduce the incidence of HIV
and other sexually transmitted infections. Unfortunately, researchers
and practitioners have largely ignored a critical aspect of condom use
promotion.
*OBJECTIVE:* To assess the prevalence and selected correlates of condom
errors and problems as experienced by males and females 14 to 24 years
of age.
*METHODS:* Data from three distinct samples was analyzed: African
American adolescent females, undergraduates from a large Midwestern
university and from a Southern university. Assessed errors included
slippage during withdrawal, incorrect and incomplete application of
condoms, starting sex before condoms were applied, removing condoms
before sex was over, reusing condoms, and lack of adequate lubrication.
Assessed problems included loss of erection, slippage during sex, and
breakage. Significance was defined by an alpha of .05. Correlates were
tested in a multivariate logistic regression models. Data (collected
from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health) relative to
misinformation about correct condom use was also analyzed.
*RESULTS:* Condom use errors and problems were commonly reported. Errors
related to incomplete use and incorrect applications were especially
common. Problems related to erection, slippage, and breakage were also
very common. Significant correlates included gender, instruction on
condom use, motivation to use condoms, and frequency of condom use.
*CONCLUSIONS:* Condom use errors and problems among adolescents are
common and may be amenable to behavioral intervention. Implications for
the design, delivery, and evaluation of improved condom use promotion
programs will be discussed.
Pope protest celebrates civil liberties win
Jay Fletcher & Kerry Smith, Sydney
19 July 2008
*A spirited rally of 1500 people protesting against the pope’s
reactionary policies took place on July 19 against the backdrop of an
important civil liberties victory in the courts.*
“We won the battle in court”, Rachel Evans, one of the rally organisers,
told the crowd. “This is not just a victory for the NoToPope Coalition
(NTPC), or just for the queer community, or just for campaigners for
reproductive rights. This is a victory for all protesters.”
Evans was referring to the July 15 Federal Court ruling that overturned
part of the state Labor government’s World Youth Day (WYD) laws that
would have made “annoying” Catholic pilgrims during WYD activities a
crime punishable by fines of up to $5500.
The laws were part of regulations announced by deputy premier John
Watkins on June 28, the last sitting day of parliament before WYD and
less than one week after the NoToPope protest was announced. The same
regulations banned the “sale or distribution” of a range of items
(including condoms and stickers) without approval by the government’s
WYD authority.
As the NTPC had advertised its intention to distribute condoms and
stickers, these regulations directly challenged the right of the protest
to go ahead as planned. Evans and Amber Pike from the NTPC, with
assistance from the NSW Council for Civil Liberties (CCL), responded by
launching a legal challenge to the government’s regulations.
In ruling on that challenge, the Federal Court interpreted the relevant
sections of the regulations to mean that only commercial items required
authorisation. It found that all the activities planned by the NTPC fell
within the bounds of Australia’s implied constitutional right to “free
political expression”.
NSW CCL president Cameron Murphy addressed the July 19 rally to drive
home the importance of this civil liberties victory. He concluded by
saying, “Let’s all make sure we are as annoying as we can possibly be”.
An important aspect of the rally was the participation of several
speakers from Broken Rites, a group campaigning for justice for victims
of sexual assault within the church.
“We have a role in the gay community, we have a role in society: it is
to stand up and speak up with the truth about what’s happened in the
church and what’s been covered up”, Broken Rites representative Chris
MacIsaac told the rally.
Alex Bainbridge from the Socialist Alliance told the crowd that the
Catholic Church hierarchy was waging a “war against sex”, whereas what
we need is “a war against sexually transmitted diseases”. Reverend Karl
Hand from the Metropolitan Community Church told protesters, “The rules
the pope has made are oppressive and unjust”.
“AIDS does not discriminate, but people do”, said Allan Preistly from
Community Action Against Homophobia. “It doesn’t know the difference
between men and women, gay or lesbian, white, black or anything. Yet the
Vatican is playing russian roulette with our lives.”
Rally participants from queer collectives, sex worker rights groups and
political organisations such as Resistance, the Socialist Alliance and
the Greens then marched the Mardi Gras route from Taylor Square to Moore
Park. The march was led by a mock “popemobile” and a banner proclaiming,
“The pope is wrong — put a condom on”.
In *Brisbane*, more than 100 people rallied with helium-filled condoms
and banners, and heard speakers from the Queensland Council for Civil
Liberties, pro-choice collectives, the QT queer collective and radio
station 4ZZZ.
“We are protesting against the pope’s anti-queer, anti-abortion,
anti-condom stance”, spokesperson Paul Benedek told the /Brisbane
Times/. A speaker from 4ZZZ addressed Queensland’s age of consent laws,
which discriminate against lesbian and gay youth.
Rhiahnon Kennedy reports that more than 100 people also rallied on the
steps of parliament in *Melbourne* on July 13. The Youth Against World
Youth Day event was organised by a coalition of secular groups with
endorsements from the Socialist Alliance, Resistance, Community Action
Against Homophobia, community radio 3CR and the queer department of the
National Union of Students, as well as groups such as Broken Rites and
In Good Faith and Associates.
Melbourne protest organiser Jason Ball said the action supported freedom
of religion but also the need for the separation of church and state.
“We’re frustrated by the taxpayer-funded nature of WYD, to the tune of
$150 million”, he said.
Activists in *Perth* also held a Youth Against World Youth Day event,
collecting signatures and increasing awareness and support for future
actions for queer rights, contraception education and abortion rights.
From: Australian News, Green Left Weekly issue #759
<http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2008/759> 23 July 2008.