The Pope's Words to Africa -- Much to Say, Much to Read, in New Apostolic Exhortation

During his trip to Africa, the Pope has released Africae Munus, a new Apostolic Exhortation specifically on the Church in Africa. At 177 paragraphs, AM is quite a hefty Apostolic Exhortation and calls upon all the peoples of the world to consider it thoroughly with much deep thought and study.

Many in the secular media will only see the following quote, and of course render it to the general public through their hermeneutic of suspicion:

The problem of AIDS, in particular, clearly calls for a medical and pharmaceutical response. This is not enough, however: the problem goes deeper. Above all, it is an ethical problem. The change of behaviour that it requires – for example, sexual abstinence, rejection of sexual promiscuity, fidelity within marriage – ultimately involves the question of integral development, which demands a global approach and a global response from the Church. For if it is to be effective, the prevention of AIDS must be based on a sex education that is itself grounded in an anthropology anchored in the natural law and enlightened by the word of God and the Church’s teaching (AM, 72).

In other words, the condom is not the answer; Africans deserve better! The more I read this quote, the more I see the beauty and fullness of the Church's teaching on sexual morality in this quote.

His comments on Voodoo and Islam (AM, 93-94) will draw close scrutiny as well: the comments on Voodoo reflect a mini-treatise on the essence of inculturation; the comments on Islam will likely receive a warm reception from Christians living in dangerous conditions and from peaceful Muslims, but scorn from radical Muslims and from liberals. Ah, but there is much, much more to read here! Pope Benedict keeps writing faster than I can read!