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French Blast Pope's Anti-Condom Remarks

Condoms make Africa AIDS crisis worse, he had said

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Mar 18, 2009 3:14 PM CDT

(Newser) – Irked by Pope Benedict’s anti-condom remarks in Africa, the French foreign ministry today called them “a threat to public health policies and the duty to protect human life” and voiced “extremely sharp concern over the consequences,” the BBC reports. The pontiff said on the first day of his current visit that condom distribution worsens the AIDS crisis. The Vatican advocates abstinence instead.

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Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Vespers at the Mary Queen of Apostles Basilica in Yaounde, Cameroon, earlier today. (AP Photo)

Pope Benedict XVI leaves on his popemobile after he celebrated a Vesper ceremony in the "Marie Reigne des Apotres" basilica in Cameroon earlier today. (AP Photo)

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While it is not up to us to pass judgment on Church doctrine, we consider such comments a threat to public health policies and the duty to protect human life.
- Eric Chevallier, French
foreign ministry spokesman

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French Blast Pope's Anti-Condom Remarks