SM somehow we have a lapse in understanding.

You say, "...that rape cannot be used as an excuse for trying to stop the distribution of condoms." <- what do you mean?

Rape as an excuse to stop condom distribution? I can't imagine that many rapists bother wearing condoms for the event; so I don't grasp any logic in your comment.

Anyway, I am all for condom distribution; if that's at all relevant.

I didn't connect the two issues of condom distribution and rape.

My point was that on the list of separate 'evils' that the Pope could have addressed, he could have chosen to exert his influence against rape, since the recorded rate (alone) in SA is so high.

That many victims are doubly injured by contracting AIDs from the rapist was incidental to my point, though it's a significant and tragic issue as well.

(Hiya Romany - lovely to see your posts again. I'm just having a little return visit but a bit too busy to pursue anything much for long. I lurk occasionally and that's going to be about it for the next couple of months).

Pynchme,

I am sorry if I mis interpreted your meaning, but in a forum on the pope condom and aids, your comment of:

"The spread of AIDs is linked in some significant degree to RAPE, not condoms."

would appear to be open to interpreting as support for the idiotic stance of the pope.

If this was not your intention I apologise.

Pynchme -

Just a pertinent anecdote on your comment about rapists not stopping to put on condoms:

We women were all advised to carry a condom in our purses at all times specifically for that contingency! I, like most of my friends, duly did so - but we all used to have hilarious sort of gallows-humour discussions of exactly how we would persuade would-be rapists to comply.

That said however, I do know of an 84 year old woman who not only persuaded her 20 year old rapist to do so - she even drank tea with him afterwards and reduced him to tears! Truth is indeed stranger than fiction sometimes.