Pope says West should not condescend to Africa

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Pope says West should not condescend to Africa
By Philip Pullella

COTONOU | Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:58am EST

COTONOU (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Saturday the developed world could not continue to look down on Africa "with the judgmental tone of a moralizer" and impose rules, but must come up with real partnership solutions to solve the continent's many problems.

The 84-year-old pope made his appeal in an address to officials of Benin, including President Thomas Boni Yayi and the diplomatic corps, on the second day of his trip to the West African nation.

"Too often our mind is blocked by prejudices or by images which give a negative impression of the realities of Africa, the fruit of a bleak analysis," he said.

"It is tempting to point to what does not work; it is easy to assume the judgmental tone of the moralizer or of the expert who imposes his conclusions and proposes, at the end of the day, few useful solutions."



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/19/us-pope-africa-idUSTRE7AI0D720111119

[BlueMTexpat]

1. If there is anyone who knows about the "judgmental tone of the moralizer,"

it is indeed Pope Benny.

I may approve the message, but I don't particularly care for the messenger.

[urgk]

2. I thought exactly the same thing. (n/t)

[BlueMTexpat]

3. Great minds, LOL!

:hi:

[boppers]

16. Me three.

The last person on earth who can reasonably complain about others being judgmental is a religious leader.

[madrchsod]

4. maybe he should look at the his church`s history in the americas

[alphafemale]

5. You mean like teaching them some basic birth control?

Of how not to have five kids when you can barely feed one?

[BumRushDaShow]

7. "Them"? Who is "them"? Case in point. n/t

[enki23]

8. He likes *them* ignorant of reality.

"Them" being "ignorant people in Africa". They're just like ignorant people in the United States, except they have much less chance to be exposed to information on reality unhindered by the lies of popes and priests and other assorted pieces of shit.

Il Papa likes them ignorant of reality. That makes him and his brand of bullshit all the more powerful there. And it's oh, so very condescending to teach African people about reality. So much better to let religious assholes full them full of lies and bullshit unhindered by such an inconvenience.

[alphafemale]

13. I did not mean "them" in a condescending tone whatsoever. But I imagine you know that.

The "religious WRONGS" would like it if WE didn't have info about birth control either.

They don't care if they starve to death or are bombed. Just so long as there's more souls to worship Allah-Akbar. Oh wait...wrong terminoligy. pardon.

Just so long as there enough infant blood on the altar of Baal....still not right??? OK wait...why is it we want more babies to be born just so they can have a miserable, slow, painful death from starvation again?

Oh...because they are sinless creatures and will go straight to heaven to sing praises to something FOREVER...and EVER...and EVER.

ouuuukay

[AngryOldDem]

9. Not to mention AIDS prevention.

Once again, the Church is the very defintion of hypocrisy.

[Major Nikon]

6. Too bad they don't feel the same way about women

[yardwork]

10. +1

[Octafish]

11. For a short time, America did not side with the Colonialist Powers...

Tuesday it will be 48 years ago...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1818535&mesg_id=1819042

[and-justice-for-all]

12. Before one points a finger or offer moral advice...

they need to look in the mirror first.

The church is the immoral king.

[LeftishBrit]

14. So from that we can conclude...

that he will stop morally condemning Africans who use condoms to prevent AIDS?

[happyslug]

15. The actual Speech,

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2011/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20111119_corpo-diplom_en.html

Here is the Paragraph with the actual quote is from:
Speaking on other occasions, I have often joined the word hope to the word Africa. I did so in Luanda two years ago as well as in reference to the Synod. The word hope is also found several times in the post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae Munus which I am shortly going to sign. When I say that Africa is a continent of hope, I am not indulging in mere rhetoric, but simply expressing a personal conviction which is also that of the Church. Too often, our mind is blocked by prejudices or by images which give a negative impression of the realities of Africa, the fruit of a bleak analysis. It is tempting to point to what does not work; it is easy to assume the judgemental tone of the moralizer or of the expert who imposes his conclusions and proposes, at the end of the day, few useful solutions. It is also tempting to analyze the realities of Africa like a curious ethnologist or like someone who sees the vast resources only in terms of energy, minerals, agriculture and humanity easily exploited for often dubious ends. These are reductionist and disrespectful points of view which lead to the unhelpful “objectification” of Africa and her inhabitants.

[No Elephants]

17. Judgemental tone of the moralizer? You mean Pope Bennie's tone?

I can't believe anyone still cares what the Pope says about anything