Vatican condemns AIDS drug firms

[CShine]

The Vatican has spoken out against pharmaceutical companies which make huge profits from anti-Aids drugs. A senior prelate accused companies of allowing millions of children to die by denying them life-saving drugs purely for reasons of cost. Archbishop Paul Cordes, who heads a Roman Catholic charity organisation, spoke at a news conference to mark a seasonal message by Pope John Paul II. The theme of the Pope's message this year is hardships faced by children. It focuses on Africa, where millions more are set to die from the Aids pandemic.

The papal message, issued to mark the annual Lent period of fasting and penitence, asked: "What... of the tragedy of Aids and its devastating consequences in Africa? It is said that millions of persons are now afflicted by this scourge, many of whom were infected from birth. Humanity cannot close its eyes in the face of so appalling a tragedy."

Archbishop Cordes called on international pharmaceutical companies to offer cheaper drugs to the neediest. "These children are dying because they don't have medicine," he said. "There should be public pressure to convince drugs companies to lower the prices of drugs to treat the victims of Aids."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3442217.stm

[DevilsAdvocate2]

1. Based on all the bashing of the Catholic Church I see here

I expect this to be denounced by all of our DU members in no uncertain terms. Please don't disappoint me.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

5. I've never seen as much Catholic Bashing as I have here

My one complaint for a forum that is by and large very tolerant.

[liberalhistorian]

8. I don't think you'll see much of that on this thread,

because in this case, he's absolutely, positively, totally, completely, one thousand percent right, and I'm thrilled to see the Vatican take such a blunt, strongly-worded, principled stand on this. For all of its problems, and for all of the many doctrines I happen to disagree with (disclaimer: I'm a protestant), there's always been a part of the Catholic Church that has had a strong sense of social justice and there have been many leaders who have not hesitated to express their views in that regard (the death penalty, poverty, etc., etc.)

Catholic Charities does a ton of good work and service to many desperate, needy, or hurting people. It's too bad it's been taken over by the ultra-conservatives who want to take it back to mediaval times, but there are still things like this happening, and the flame still flickers.

Of course, I can't wait to hear all of the hypocritical sputtering from those neocons and wingnuts and freakers who claim that the Vatican is always right, and point to it as a bastion of tradition and morality, etc., etc., but who couldn't care less about this issue and who see nothing wrong at all with the big drug companies reaping billions of dollars of profit off the pain and suffering of other, and refusing to alleviate the pain and suffering of millions for purely profit reasons. I can't wait to hear their justification as to why the Vatican is right on abortion, homosexuality, etc., but wrong on this one.

[joycep]

9. I really don't understand

Why would you expect anyone to denounce the Catholic Church for this?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. why would that happen?

for a change they are not being homophobic, elitist of anti semetic.

i think thats a very good statement from the church

[Kellanved]

2. the Vatican is on a roll today

First this report about PC-maker Sweatshops and now the Pharma-industry.

http://www.cafod.org.uk/news_and_events/news/computer_factory_sweatshops_20040126

A few snippets:
--snip
CAFOD saw interview lists used by recruitment agencies supplying workers for an IBM production line. Reasons for rejection included: “Homosexual, more than two tattoos, father is a lawyer, has brought labour claims, worked for a union, pregnancy, does not agree with IBM policies.”
--snap
...
--snip
In Guadalajara, Mexico, CAFOD uncovered evidence of discriminatory and humiliating recruitment practises by the employment agencies supplying contract workers for the computer industry.


One woman, Monica, told CAFOD about her recruitment by a contract manufacturer for an assembly line in a company making printers for Hewlett Packard.
--snap

[xchrom]

3. i'm not a fan of this pope

but when he's right -- he's right.
i hope for a better pope next time -- but i won't hold my breath.

[DevilsAdvocate2]

4. The pope?

He's so old and feeble I'm beginning to think the scene at the Vatican is straight out of "Weekend at Bernie's"!

[roguevalley]

6. This is what all church leaders should be doing, decrying the bastards

in our lives that control the world. Good for the Pope.

[Mz Pip]

7. This from the folks

who tell the poor people of Africa that condoms do not prevent the spread of AIDS.

I agree that AIDS drugs are too expensive and drug companies are interested in the bottom line but it's still a tad disingenuous to complain about the drug companies when your own damn policies of misinformation contribute to the spread of the disease in the first place.

MzPip
:dem:

[davidinalameda]

10. thank you

couldn't have said it better myself

[Robb]

13. Ding ding ding!

Spot on! :thumbsup:

[Malva Zebrina]

12. that seems wonderful

for the Vatican to be defending these victims. Howcome they do not recognize that the use of condoms is equally as beneficial to prevent the spread of AIDS? It is not consistent here.

Maybe the Vatican can sell some of it's treasures to help the children or maybe the Vatican can stop it's prohibition against condoms. I mean if you are all for the baby being born, and then it is born with AIDS and then you condemn the corporations for not giving that baby that YOU encouraged to be brought into the world cheap medications to allow it to survive a couple of years, I just wonder how much sense that makes.

[MisterP]

15. they're not really monolithic;

this is the more liberal, liberation faction, as opposed to the Opus Dei, Scalia wing

[CShine]

14. bump