African Cardinals Criticize Western Aid Programs For Promoting Abortion Rights, Contraception

African cardinals attending a three-week meeting on the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa recently denounced the "cultural imperialism" of wealthier countries that they claim destroy the continent's moral customs by promoting abortion rights, contraception and condom use, the AP/New York Times reports. The cardinals chided organizations that promote "reproductive health care" for African women and said that health programs that claim to aid African residents are actually covers for promoting access to abortion and birth control, which the Catholic Church opposes.

Cardinal Theodore-Adrien Sarr of Dakar, Senegal, said, "We want to be helped, but helped in the name of truth, with respect of what we are and what we want for ourselves." He continued, "Western populations think that their life is the model for everybody, but it's not the case. If they have some ideas, they can put forward these ideas, but these shouldn't be imposed on all the populations in the world."

Cardinal Wilfred Fox Napier of Durban, South Africa, said, "There are certain cultural norms that are inherent in Africa. One of them is that sexual activity is for bringing babies into the world. It's not so much for enjoyment." He added that Western groups say "'no, it's for enjoyment, and pregnancy is almost a disease.'" Napier also criticized aid groups that require part of the funding allotted for HIV/AIDS programs to go toward condom purchases (AP/New York Times, 10/14).


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