Comments on: When in Doubt, Blame the Pope http://clemsonforum.com/2007/04/06/when-in-doubt-blame-the-pope/ Clemson University's Progressive News and Opinion Source Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:55:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Andrea Contenti http://clemsonforum.com/2007/04/06/when-in-doubt-blame-the-pope/#comment-14111 Sat, 07 Apr 2007 22:31:20 +0000 http://clemsonforum.com/2007/04/06/when-in-doubt-blame-the-pope/#comment-14111 Dear Sir, I had the opportunity of reading your article "When in doubt, blame the Pope", and I think you have a great future as political journalist: the masterful craftmanship in using external events for internal and electoral purposes, the ability in not providing adequate sources, a true talent in connecting facts that have little to do one with the other through many layers of clumsy mediations - in a word, you are learning how to write, you have potential. Formally, it is a very good article. Unfortunately, when we go a little bit deeper into the argument, there are some problems. First of all, it would be interesting to know the source claiming this unprecedented success against HIV in Uganda: Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church has solved the problem and yet they are very reluctant in announcing the incredible results their infallible recipe has produced... but we know they are very humble, so maybe everything is in order here. It is only one of the problems though, because if the author of the article knew the book "Geopolitica della Chiesa Cattolica" written by Fabrizio Mastrofini (one could add, if the author knew something about the Catholic Church at all, but he's too young, he will learn, no problem) as well as many other books on the same argument, he would know that Catholic organizations and missionaries in Africa ACTUALLY USE condoms to prevent the diffusion of HIV. Mr. Mastrofini is a Vaticanist who has followed his Holiness Benedict XVI in many of his trips and has written on the challenges facing the Catholic Church in the five continents. But there is abundant secondary literature about Africa and Uganda in English as well. There is a limit to hypocrisy also for the Catholic Church, even though sometimes I have to admit it looks virtually bottomless: thinking that they do not suggest the use of condoms in Africa is like pretending that they should kick out gay priests - about 50% of their personnel would be on the streets, and they are already undersized. Maybe this young man believe in miracles, and so we have explained his affinity with the Pope, the Archangel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary, and the whole Uganda thing. Yes, we should listen to the Pope: what a cute intellect he has, guess what, he is always right. War is bad, peace is good; don't fornicate, and no HIV or other sexually transmitted disease will affect you. Jesus Christ, he is sooooo smart and wise. Wait, he has to be, because he is ALWAYS right (it's written somewhere). And finally, there is another small problem: I hate to break the news to the young man, but there is an inconvenient truth, in force in Africa as well as everywhere - people fuck. The young man can put all of his zealous effort in supporting abstinence, he can organize rallies for the "True Love Waits" programs - in short, he can do pretty much whatever he wants. Problem is, people will not give a fuck, or maybe they will for about half an hour, and then will resume fucking. Congratulations for the well written article and for the young man's future career. Sincerely, Andrea Contenti Dear Sir,
I had the opportunity of reading your article “When in doubt, blame the Pope”, and I think you have a great future as political journalist: the masterful craftmanship in using external events for internal and electoral purposes, the ability in not providing adequate sources, a true talent in connecting facts that have little to do one with the other through many layers of clumsy mediations - in a word, you are learning how to write, you have potential. Formally, it is a very good article. Unfortunately, when we go a little bit deeper into the argument, there are some problems.

First of all, it would be interesting to know the source claiming this unprecedented success against HIV in Uganda: Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church has solved the problem and yet they are very reluctant in announcing the incredible results their infallible recipe has produced… but we know they are very humble, so maybe everything is in order here.

It is only one of the problems though, because if the author of the article knew the book “Geopolitica della Chiesa Cattolica” written by Fabrizio Mastrofini (one could add, if the author knew something about the Catholic Church at all, but he’s too young, he will learn, no problem) as well as many other books on the same argument, he would know that Catholic organizations and missionaries in Africa ACTUALLY USE condoms to prevent the diffusion of HIV. Mr. Mastrofini is a Vaticanist who has followed his Holiness Benedict XVI in many of his trips and has written on the challenges facing the Catholic Church in the five continents. But there is abundant secondary literature about Africa and Uganda in English as well. There is a limit to hypocrisy also for the Catholic Church, even though sometimes I have to admit it looks virtually bottomless: thinking that they do not suggest the use of condoms in Africa is like pretending that they should kick out gay priests - about 50% of their personnel would be on the streets, and they are already undersized.

Maybe this young man believe in miracles, and so we have explained his affinity with the Pope, the Archangel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary, and the whole Uganda thing. Yes, we should listen to the Pope: what a cute intellect he has, guess what, he is always right. War is bad, peace is good; don’t fornicate, and no HIV or other sexually transmitted disease will affect you. Jesus Christ, he is sooooo smart and wise. Wait, he has to be, because he is ALWAYS right (it’s written somewhere).

And finally, there is another small problem: I hate to break the news to the young man, but there is an inconvenient truth, in force in Africa as well as everywhere - people fuck. The young man can put all of his zealous effort in supporting abstinence, he can organize rallies for the “True Love Waits” programs - in short, he can do pretty much whatever he wants. Problem is, people will not give a fuck, or maybe they will for about half an hour, and then will resume fucking.

Congratulations for the well written article and for the young man’s future career.

Sincerely,
Andrea Contenti

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