Interviewed by John L. Allen, Jr.
Seen through Western eyes, the Catholic Church in Africa often presents an intriguing mix of deep conservatism on some issues - especially sexual morality - and remarkably progressive views on other matters, such as economic justice, peace, and the environment. Cameroon's Bishop George Nkuo, who heads the mostly English-speaking Kumbo Diocese in the Northwest Region, illustrates that mix. Commenting on day one of Pope Benedict XVI's first voyage to Africa, Mgr Nkuo strongly backed the Pope's line on condoms and AIDS, insisting that in his rural diocese, the easy availability of condoms encourages promiscuity and a false sense of invulnerability. Only personal conversion, he argued, including sexual self-discipline, offers a long-term solution to the AIDS crisis. Excerpts:
By now, you've heard about the pope's comments on condoms in response to a reporter's question. In a nutshell, he said that condoms should not be part of anti-AIDS programs, and that they can actually make the problem worse. This is probably a stupid question to ask a bishop, but do you agree with the Pope?
I do agree with the Pope, and I'm not saying that just because he's the pope. I live in area hit hard by the disease, and I have a very strong network in the diocese that tries to fight AIDS. An important part [of that fight] is our Family Life Centre, which I think is an option that makes sense for the people where I live.
By that, you mean an option for 'family values' such as faithful marriage and abstinence outside marriage?
Yes. I have huge amounts of testimony that the display and the spread of condoms has only promoted promiscuity, at least in the part of the country where we are.
Because they make people feel invulnerable?
I think so, completely so. People believe that using them makes everything safe. … Our effort, in the Family Life Centre we've set up in the diocese, is to train people in responsible behaviour. I think it yields fruit, and that's why I'm so convinced about it.
For the outside world, at least, it just seems like common sense that when you're dealing with an emergency, you should try everything - including condoms.
This isn't about an emergency, but rather the values of a lifetime … respect for life, respect for the human person. It has to do also with discipline, with education … in the end, the solution [to the AIDS crisis] is conversion. If I'm converted, my whole life changes - my relationship with God, with other people, and so on.
Some would argue that with 22 million Africans infected, and 1.5 million deaths every year, we need to use every tool in the toolbox - and that while abstinence is a noble ideal, it just isn't practical.
[Using condoms] is an easy option, but we've got other options that I would rather present to the people. Also, it's been established scientifically that condoms themselves are not as safe as people imagine. I think the better option, the one we've taken, is teaching the people good discipline. Learning to orient your life in a moral way, ultimately, is the answer. It's very challenging, but it's the answer.
What about the appointments of priests in the Diocese of Bamenda?
Posted by: Cornelius Bamenjo | June 13, 2009 at 10:44 AM