Many of those taken from their homes were elderly people held for days in appalling conditions.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Maryam Namazie on Sharia and Women
Mar 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFor every stoning, there are thousands of women whose rights are violated as a result of marriage or divorce laws.… Read the rest
Vatican Complains of Focus on Condom Issue
Mar 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe Pope’s speeches are usually regarded as sacrosanct; no disagreement allowed. Tough.… Read the rest
The Pope Makes People Feel Sick
Mar 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCritics say the pope is advocating inhumane policies that will increase suffering.… Read the rest
Wendy Doniger on the Battle Over Hindu History
Mar 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMyths that pass for history can be deadly; in India they incite violence against Muslims, women, lower castes.… Read the rest
Impeach the Pope
Mar 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMisogyny is a major part of the base on which the church was constructed.… Read the rest
New Evidence in Kambakhsh Case
Mar 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe Independent has tracked down the real author of the essay; Kambakhsh wrote none of it.… Read the rest
Firestorm Over Pope Continues
Mar 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDaniel Cohn Bendit said ‘We’ve had enough of this pope,’ called his remarks ‘close to premeditated murder.’… Read the rest
BBC Religion Correspondent Defends the Pope
Mar 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘There is something at stake that is greater even than the fight against Aids.’ He really said that.… Read the rest
Condemnation of Pope
Mar 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The pope is making matters worse.’ ‘Religious dogma is more important to him than the lives of Africans.’… Read the rest
A purely artificial code
Mar 19th, 2009 10:46 am | By Ophelia BensonThe other day we had a bit of Bernard Williams on moral relativism; today we get the musings of Bertie Wooster.
Wooster has been caught in apparent flagrante delicto with Pauline Stoker by her father, who dislikes him and thinks Pauline is in love with him.
“It was enough to give any parent the jitters, and I was not surprised that his demeanour was that of stout Cortez staring at the Pacific. A fellow with fifty millions in his kick doesn’t have to wear the mask. If he wants to give any selected bloke a nasty look, he gives him a nasty look. He was giving me one now…
Fortunately, the thing did not go beyond looks. Say what … Read the rest
Everybody don’t like the pope
Mar 18th, 2009 7:55 pm | By Ophelia BensonA roundup of replies to the pope.
We consider that such comments are a threat to public health policies and the duty to protect human life.”
German Health Minister Ulla Schmidt and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said in a joint statement:
Condoms save lives, in Europe as well as on other continents. Modern assistance to the developing world today must make access to family planning available to the poorest of the poor – especially the use of condoms. Anything else would be irresponsible.
Dutch Development Minister Bert Koenders said it was “extremely harmful and very serious” that the Pope was “forbidding people to protect themselves”.
… Read the rest“There is an enormous stigma surrounding the subject of Aids
Darth Ratzinger
Mar 18th, 2009 4:02 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe previous pope was evil too.
In September 1990 he visited the town of Mwanza, in northern Tanzania, and gave a speech.
Tanzania, Uganda and the other countries surrounding Lake Victoria were then at the epicentre of HIV/AIDS, which was beginning its race down Africa’s highways to devastate every corner of the continent. Some nearby villages consisted only of the very old and very young, while rows and rows of wooden crosses marked the graves of others.
So the pope did his bit to help out in this nightmare situation.
… Read the restHe told his audience that condoms, then internationally accepted as the only real way to curtail the spread of the disease, especially in the developing world, were a sin
Egypt, Pakistan Push Resolution Curbing Speech
Mar 18th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPakistan recently circulated a resolution ‘Combating Defamation of Religions’ to UN diplomats in Geneva.… Read the rest
Bible Only Way to Prevent AIDS, Says Pope
Mar 18th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonExperts recommend latex instead.… Read the rest
An Epidemiologist Rebukes the Pope
Mar 18th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDenying the fact that condom use reduces the spread of AIDS makes the pope seem either ignorant or malicious.… Read the rest
The Pope’s Horrific Ignorance
Mar 18th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe ruthless cleric’s ‘teaching’ takes no account of women whose husbands are infected.… Read the rest
Pope JP Sentenced Millions of Africans to Death
Mar 18th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIn one afternoon, the Vatican destroyed more than a decade of patient campaigning for condom use.… Read the rest
France Rebukes Pope Over Condom Issue
Mar 18th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘We consider that such comments are a threat to public health policies and the duty to protect human life.’… Read the rest
Egyptian Women Learn to Fight Back
Mar 18th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSexual harassment is nearly universal in Egypt, and always blamed on the woman.… Read the rest