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Giant and DwarfChurch as an example for social teachings and contribute to building a more justworld in which everyone will be able to live a dignified life.JM: Those are all noble words and objectives, which, unfortunately, significantly undermineany contribution made by Catholic ideology with respect to population growthand the spread of HIV. The Action Plan I mentioned also says: “The ultimate goal isto secure quality of life for current and future generations, which is why the pace ofdemographic transformation in the countries with unbalanced demographic growthmust be hastened, with social, economic and environmental goals at the forefront longwith complete respect for human rights. The world’s population must be stabilized.” 184This is the only way we are going to be able to provide a dignified life to the childrenborn in Africa and in other impoverished parts of the world. “Living with dignity” alsomeans being born into a family that is able to provide for a child’s basic needs at thevery least. That is why the WHO has said the family planning options increase thechances for survival and, ultimately, a dignified life for new-born children.MČ: The Western media has missed the basic points made by the Holy Father’s missionto Africa related to poverty, reconciliation, justice and peace. Due to the controversyover condoms, no information was provided on the poor living conditions endured bymany Africans who continue to die from any number of diseases, famines and wars.It is unfortunate that the principle of providing objective information doesn’t seem towork among the media and journalists who seem to focus on a single controversialtheme that the Pope touched on only in passing and that was also taken out of context.JM: You say that the entire world has incorrectly responded to what Ratzinger has said.I’d like to just remind you what precisely he said: 185 “...condoms are not the solution;they only make the situation worse”. What he is saying is very clear, clearly misleadingand extremely dangerous for those Africans who consider its author an authority.As opposed to ideology, epidemiology has proven the use of condoms to be a veryeffective tool to lower the risk of HIV infection and that the use of contraceptives helpsdampen population growth, thereby making a significant contribution to preventinghunger and poverty.MČ: The Church gives people living in extreme poverty the courage to move forward as wellas awareness of the value of human dignity. People suffer and die from AIDS regardlessof if they used condoms or not. We have ample experience thanks to cooperation withreligious organizations and institutions in Africa for 14 years. I’d be happy to discussthat experience. But only on a certain level. I have no desire to discuss with people whogrossly and unfairly attack the Church and all it represents.184 The full text of the UN’s Action Plan for the International Conference on Population and Developmentadopted at a global conference in Cairo in 1994 can be found in Slovak at http://www.moznostvolby.sk/kahira94.htm185 A video of the incriminating statement can be seen online, for example at the Deutsche Welle website:http://www.dw.de/popups/popup_single_mediaplayer/0,,4107860_type_video_struct_1433_contentId_4109384,00.html?null&format=FlashHigh.206