Pope’s homophobic speech cut short by rain!

 Gay Rights, Religion  No Responses »
Aug 222011
 

Pope Benedict XVI is protected from the rain with umbrellas during a summer storm in Madrid, Spain. (Getty Images)

(BlogMensGo, 22 August 2011) The Pope has been in Madrid peddling his homophobic beliefs again.  Unfortunately (for him) he had to cut his speech short when a thunderstorm hit Madrid on Saturday night.

PinkPaper and Agence France-Presse report that strong winds and sheets of rain hit the air base Cuantro Vientos where Pope Benedict XVI was speaking, blowing off his skullcap and shaking the stage.

It is reported that 1,5 million people gathered to listen to his speech where he proclaimed marriage to be a union between a man and a woman only.  He managed to squeeze in ‘The Lord calls many people to marriage, in which a man and a woman, in becoming one flesh, find fulfillment in a profound life of communion’.  This was the final speech of his 4 day tour.

Hundreds of gays and lesbians had planned a kiss-in protest against the pope and his speech but were foiled by police, although, its believed that one couple managed to kiss in front of the pope’s vehicle.

In 2005, marriage between same sex parties was legalised but the catholic church has called for the government to outlaw this again as the Pope said last year that such marriage is a confusion to society’s values.

They say the lord works in mysterious ways….I am sure the Pope will not take the hint!

Via PinkNews

Matt / MensGo

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 Posted by at 3:49 pm  Tagged with: ,

The HIV problem of the Arab world.

 Health, Religion  No Responses »
Aug 152011
 

(Blogmensgo, August 15, 2011) The Journal of Public Library of Science (PLoS) on August 2, 2011 published a study indicating that HIV in the Arab world (23 countries in North Africa and Middle East) shows a prevalence much higher in men who have sex with men than the rest of the population. Urgent action is needed now in terms of prevention, control and non-stigmatization of populations at risk, argues the study coordinated by Ghina Mumtaz, the group of infectious disease epidemiology at the Weill Medical College in Qatar.

The study shows religion keeping quiet...©Photoxpress.com / indochine.

In many countries, HIV prevalence among some gay and bisexual men is as high as 28% (eg 27.6% in Pakistan). The HIV infection even exceeds 25% of cases in several countries.

Risk behaviors tend to accumulate here and there: the high number of partners (the average varies according to the groups studied, from 4 to 14 different partners during the last six months), low condom use (usually less than 25%), resort to prostitution male or female (in 20% to 76% of subjects on average), substance abuse, etc.. A major risk factor is the stigma of gay and bisexual men, which slows or prevents operations of awareness, prevention and treatment.

It would be simplistic to take for granted that some of the data appears satisfactory. While basic knowledge about HIV / AIDS are quite well understood, the true understanding of the issues is more limited than many gay and bisexual men consider low risk of HIV infection. Thus, 80% are aware of condoms but its protective effects are mentioned by 31% to 51% of respondents, except in Lebanon where 96% of men who have sex with other men know that condoms prevent the HIV transmission during anal penetration.

The study sees a glimmer of hope – at least one initiative to encourage – in the fact that several countries (including Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan and Tunisia) circumvent social and religious taboos in a manner direct or indirect, NGOs take it upon themselves to inform people on matters relating to HIV.

Mumtaz G., Hilmi N., McFarland W., Kaplan R.L., Akala F.A., et al. (2010) : Are HIV Epidemics among Men Who Have Sex with Men Emerging in the Middle East and North Africa? A Systematic Review and Data Synthesis.

In HMTL | in PDF.

The study is based primarily on the intersection of studies, reports and statistics dating back to 2008.

Via the world press.  This article was written originally on our French blog, to view the original article click here.

Philca & Matt / MensGo 

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 Posted by at 4:38 pm  Tagged with: ,

Mass for gays and lesbians in the church of St. Cecilia in Boston

 Gay Rights, Religion  No Responses »
Jul 202011
 

(Blogmensgo, July 20th, 2011) Father John Unni, pastor of St. Cecilia Catholic Church of Boston, celebrated July 10, 2011 a mass for gays and lesbians, which was attended by 700 faithful. This is the second time in two months for the priest to hold a service specifically for or in favor of homosexuals, and therefore defying the instructions of the local Catholic hierarchy.

As shown in the above report, the Office rainbow ministry, there were “more people than [Mass] Easter.” Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (Wikipedia article), was also present, clearly gay-friendly by conviction than by political obligation.

The homily of the Father Unni was the official theme “You are all welcome” and understood “even and especially if you are gay or lesbian.” According to the priest, a servant of God, it is contrary to his mission, it’s even a denial of his faith if he refuses the Eucharist to a segment of the population. This is particularly what he had already hammered, June 12, 2011, Pentecost Sunday, during a homily prohibited by the Archdiocese of Boston, as evidenced by this video from the Boston Globe (note format incompatible with some browsers, requires excessive reverberation to listen).

The Office of June 12 was supposed to be in the Gay Pride Month. The Archdiocese of Boston cancelled without and reason, the father Unni was against the advice of his superiors, still firm in his actions. The mass of July 10th was also being celebrated without the approval of the archdiocese, but an official representative of Cardinal Sean O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, did in fact participate in the celebration. The archbishop had mentioned the previous day that John Unni enjoyed his full support. It seems that the cardinal had agreed to the celebration of Mass in such a condition that the priest read a statement by the ecclesiastical authorities, that the father would not have stooped to Unni.

John Unni even blessed the poodles, but are they gay? ©Stceciliaboston.org / Stephanie Yeow.

The website of the parish of Sainte-Cecilia is itself, openly gay-friendly. Both its opening slogan “Come as you are and bring a friend. Everyone is welcome at St. Cecilia.” along with the space devoted to the Rainbow Ministry on the home page.

Comment. A fan page on Facebook is devoted to John Unni, but is devoid of any element and does not seem to come from the priest himself.

This article has been translated from our french blog.  To view the original, click here.

Matt & Philca / MensGo

Via Huffington Post June 14th, 2011

 

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