Misogynist and homophobe to the end.
Papal condom ban colluded with the death of millions.
London – 3 April 2005
“History will judge the Pope harshly,” said Peter Tatchell, of the gay human rights group OutRage!.
Commenting on John Paul II’s record and legacy he said:
“His opposition to the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV has contributed to millions of people dying an agonising, needless death. Many children in developing countries are orphans; having lost their parents to Aids because of the Pope’s anti-condom dogma.”
“Pope John Paul II waged a ceaseless war against the human rights of women and gay people. He opposed the right of women to control their own fertility; blocked women’s equality in the church; and endorsed state-sponsored discrimination against lesbians and gay men.
“While the Pope’s opposition to war and poverty was commendable, his attacks on the human rights of women and gay people were offensive and immoral.
“His rejection of life-saving condoms contributed to the deaths of millions from Aids.
“The Pope could have said that if people cannot abstain from sex, they have a moral duty to use a condom to prevent the spread of HIV. His endorsement of condoms, even if only as the lesser of two evils, would have saved lives. John Paul’s opposition to condom use colluded with the greatest health crisis the world has ever known.
“Despite over 40 million people being infected worldwide with HIV, the Pope turned his back on a proven method of stopping virus transmission.
“Last year he authorised the Vatican lie that condoms spread Aids by allowing HIV to pass through the rubber. This scare-mongering falsehood is refuted by medical science.
“The Pope sanctioned Vatican efforts in March 2005 that successfully blocked recognition of gay human rights by the United Nations, effectively endorsing continued homophobic persecution in two-thirds of the world.
“This persecution is condemning millions of lesbian and gay people to be rejected by their families, sacked from their jobs, evicted from their homes, and to be subjected to homophobic abuse, threats, arrest, imprisonment, rape, assault and murder – either by vigilantes or by state agents such as the police and military.
“The Pope not only refused to challenge this global war against queers, he succeeded in helping thwart UN attempts to protect lesbians and gay men from this avalanche of hatred and violence. He has queer blood on his holy hands.
“His church’s advice to parents to seek psychotherapy for their gay children ruined many lives, in some cases leading to long-term depression and even suicide.
“Under his administration, the Vatican went to extraordinary lengths to protect paedophile priests while cruelly persecuting gay clergy.
“Catholic politicians were threatened with excommunication if they supported gay equality or the right of women to control their own bodies.
“He denounced gay people as ‘instrinsically disordered’ and condemned same-sex relationships as ‘evil’.
“We hope his successor will move the Catholic Church towards more enlightened and humane doctrines,” Mr Tatchell added.