Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vanimo (Agenzia Fides) – Bishop Cesare Bonivento, PIME missionary and Bishop of Vanimo (Papua New Guinea) is deeply concerned. While many of the youth of Papua New Guinea are living the extraordinary experience of World Youth Day in Sydney, the Bishop is worried about the physical, moral, and spiritual well-being of thousands of Papua’s youth: “Our youth are in grave danger,” he told Agenzia Fides.
The topic in debate is AIDS, that is, the strategy and means of preventing it. In Papua New Guinea, a country that is 95% Christian, where there are over 1.7 million Catholics in a population of 5.8 million, the heated debate is involving institutions, teachers, and political and religious leaders, including from the Catholic Church.
The Education Department has published and distributed in schools a “Student Resource Book” on HIV/AIDS awareness for children. The book advises children to use various manners of “safe sex,” encouraging them to engage in sexual relations, as long as it includes the use of a condom.
In response to such a distorted vision of interpersonal relations, Bishop Bonivento has spoken out strongly, clearly confronting the issue in a Pastoral Letter that has been distributed in parishes, schools, and associations, receiving media coverage as well. The Bishop emphasizes the need to protect school age children (especially those of 13-15 years of age) who “will read it as an invitation to risky sexual activities, rather then as a discouragement.”
The book also contains scientific errors and is educationally and morally deceiving. Firstly, it defines “safe sex” as sexual relations with a condom, instead of saying “safer sex,” because in reality, it is not 100% risk-free for contraction of diseases. In addition, it never presents abstinence from sexual relations as a means to preventing AIDS, nor does it discourage promiscuity in this respect. In his Pastoral Letter, Bishop Bonivento says that the teaching given in this book is not in tune with Papua New Guinea’s Constitution, because it goes directly against the most basic Christian principles, which are upheld by the national Constitution. The Letter asks that the Government withdraw the book from schools, as it leads to confusion among the youth. He asks the teachers to refuse to use the book, making use of their right to “conscientious objection,” and he reminds parents of their role as educators that they should not renounce, leaving it in the hands of others.
The Letter mentions the possible tragic consequences of the spread of AIDS in society, if the advice in the book is taken to heart. The Letter, which Agenzia Fides has published in its entirety (see link below), explains that the book diverts the youth’s attention from moral values, eliminating any reference to God in their life and ruinously exposing them to selfish relationships that are harmful to their development.
The Bishop notes that the Catholic Church has the duty of speaking out and protecting Papua’s youth and he asks all leaders, teachers, families, and catechists to be vigilant in this regards.
“I remind everybody that the family is the most important element in our society. If the family is strong, our Country will be strong. To teach the children to deal with their sexuality according to the Gospel means to strengthen our future families and to make our Country great,” the Bishop of Vanimo concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/7/2008)
