News; "Vatican imperils lives with drug stance, say critics"

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cudds

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Vatican imperils lives with drug stance, say critics

Duncan Campbell in London

February 28, 2009

THE Vatican has been accused of putting the lives of thousands at risk by attempting to influence United Nations drug policy on the eve of an international declaration.

The Vatican's objection to "harm reduction" strategies, such as needle exchange schemes, has ignited a fierce debate between the US and the European Union over how drugs should be tackled.

A new UN declaration of intent is due to be signed in Vienna on March 11. However, there are serious disagreements between member countries over whether a commitment to "harm reduction" should be included in the document, which is published every 10 years.

Now the Vatican has issued a statement that claims that using drugs is "anti-life" and "so-called harm reduction leads to liberalisation of the use of drugs". The Vatican's last-minute intervention appears to have led to Italy withdrawing from the EU consensus on the issue and thrown the talks over the declaration into confusion.

In 1998 the declaration of intent was "a drug-free world - we can do it", which critics said was unrealistic and did not tackle the complex nature of drug treatment. In favour of including support for a harm-reduction clause are most EU countries, Brazil and other Latin American countries, Australia and New Zealand. They argue that some commitment to tackling HIV and addiction through needle exchange programs and methadone and other drugs should be included.

US, Russia and Japan are opposed. The US position has been that such inclusion sends the wrong message, but there have been indications a more liberal policy may be adopted under President Barack Obama.

Release, a British drugs and legal advice charity, said: "By making a statement against harm reduction, the Vatican has indicated that its moral objection to drug use is more important than its commitment to the sanctity of life. If the Vatican is allowed to influence the UN to adopt a naive and ineffective drug policy it will needlessly lead to the increased spread of blood-borne viruses and the death of thousands more people from HIV/AIDS."

Release argues that drug treatment programs are vital for those living with HIV/AIDS and that not to accept this will put their lives at risk. "Needle and syringe exchange programs have significantly contributed to the reduction of HIV transmission among people who use drugs," it said.

A spokesman for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime confirmed on Thursday that "there are still differences of opinion" over the statement.

Other charities and foundations have also criticised the Vatican move. Mike Trace, of the International Drug Policy Consortium, said: "Progressive governments, including the UK, are now faced with the dilemma of trying to rescue reasonable support for harm reduction or not sign the declaration."

The head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Costa, said harm reduction had been appropriated by "a vocal minority". "This kind of harm reduction can prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases. But it does not solve the underlying problem, and can even perpetuate drug use," he said in a speech in November.

Guardian News & Media
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source; http://www.smh.com.au/world/vatican...stance-say-critics-20090227-8k89.html?page=-1
 
out of the wide variety of adjectives that could be used to describe my opinion of the church's stance; suprised would not be one of them :\
 
out of the wide variety of adjectives that could be used to describe my opinion of the church's stance; suprised would not be one of them
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Out of the lame variety of cudds responses to his own post that cudds could use to describe his worthless and meaningless opinions of The Vatican's stance against drug usage which is becoming more acceptable and more tolerated in today's society than ever before due to radical, young men posting their views on a news article which features nothing to do with Australian harm-reduction related matters: exelcior would not be one of them.
 
The Vatican opens its aged mouth and spews forth into the world an opinion that re-verifies its ignorance...... illegitimacy..... and irrelevance.
 
The head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Costa, said harm reduction had been appropriated by "a vocal minority". "This kind of harm reduction can prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases. But it does not solve the underlying problem, and can even perpetuate drug use," he said in a speech in November.
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Yet the UNODC report for 2008 supports the use of Harm Minimisation strategies.....even seems to encourage them...
 
All the Vatican cares about is lining their incredibly deep pockets further and appeasing their ultra conservative followers. Their opinions on anything outside of their bullshit religion and maybe how to run a lucrative fucking BUSINESS that doesn't have to pay any tax, are irrelevant, draconian and stupid.
Sorry if I think more damage to society was caused during your "spanish inquisition" than could ever possibly be caused by harm minimization. They are a bunch of ignorant, child molesting, condescending pricks who think they are superior to the rest of us and on "the true path to god", fuck them, I find it amazing the world as a whole still listens to their shit!
 
I'm glad the Vatican keeps repeating the same message so everyone can see how outdated that whole system is. If they are unwilling to bend with the times they will eventually be broken.
 
Let's not gang up on the Vatican. What about all the other UN member nations that want to control your consciousness? End prohibition now. People got to be free.
 
Religion is the only thing holding back the human race. I mean, what other ideologies do we still have from the bronze age? the earth is flat anyone?
 
Well I'm a follower of Christianity, but can't always agree with larger Roman Catholic Church, or even comfortably sit through an entire mass at a local church. Sometimes I wish others where a little less conservative or weren't so willing to accept the judgements and opinions of others. I feel like the vatican needs to focus more on faith in God and less with issues like these.
 
>ENLiGHT* said:
Great, now all they gotta say is "Science is the work of the devil, and the dinosaur fossils were planted by him."
Oh wait...
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Actually the Catholic Church endorses evolution, it is US fundamentalists that don't and believe in a 6,000 year Earth.

As for the OP, The Catholic church's stance is ironic for two reasons, they use a drug for communion albeit, not at a recreational dose but I have not heard them condemn recreational use of alcohol. Also by supporting the drug war they are supporting the planed extinction of cannabis (unknowingly or not) one of God's creations and an ingredient of the anointing oil of Christ.
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthread.php?t=399498&highlight=anointing+oil
 
I don't think a church could really get away with endorsing drug use, do you? Face it, drugs are harmful. That's why we have a "harm-reduction" site. The Church sets very high standards for us to live our lives by and I just can't see the Catholic Church ever endorsing drug use or the needle exchange/methadone TX resulting. I mean, by rights, doing drugs is immoral. Let us not fool ourselves. I have to sit next to my Suboxone doc at Mass every Sunday, you know? Feels pretty uncomfortable.
 
^actually, you don't HAVE to sit next to him. I mean, next pew, different church, worshipping Satan, becoming atheist, etc
 
No I don't sit right next to him, but I've seen him a few pews down. And no, I don't have to go to that church, but I have been going there for 32 years of my life, so no, I'm not going to change. It's just a little uncomfortable to see someone who knows your entire drug history and then get up to receive the Eucharist, like a good little girl. That's all I meant.
 
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