Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions. - GK Chesterton

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

New Corporal WOM: Providing Syringes

  1. Feed the hungry
  2. Give drink to the thirsty
  3. Clothe the naked
  4. Shelter the homeless
  5. Visit the sick
  6. Visit the imprisoned
  7. Bury the dead
  8. Provide clean syringes to drug addicts
Remember when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan women and he said, "I don't like that you're sleeping with someone other than your husband, but if you must do it, make sure you do it safely".  Yeah - I think I must have missed that story as well.

"Hey buddy, gotta clean syringe?"
Those are not words I hear often, but perhaps I'm not hanging out with the right people.  This is the type of news that makes one proud to be Catholic?  Ugh!

Bishop Hubbard approves free distribution of needles to drug abusers
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5290



Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, who serves as chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, has approved a proposal by diocesan Catholic Charities to distribute free needles to drug abusers in the hope of preventing the spread of AIDS.
Read Ed Peters take here:
http://www.canonlaw.info/2010/02/arguments-against-bp-hubbards.html
Posted by at 5:33 AM

2 comments:

  1. I'm not sure where to begin with Bishop Hubbard's directive. Dr. Peters outlines, clearly and convincingly, the spiritual and moral implications of the Bishop's proposal. Even setting those implications aside, there are practical considerations which require attention. I don't know much about needle-exchange/distribution programs, but I imagine compliancy rates are not great.

    Intravenous drug users (IDUs) are often unreliable and focused only on immediate needs/satisfaction (this is not an attack on their character, but rather a reflection of the physiological nature of addiction). It seems it would take a great deal of premeditation on the part of the IDU to repeatedly obtain sterile needles. Also, IDUs are at risk for HIV infection not ONLY because of the drug use, but because of risky and desperate sexual behavior often associated with addicts. They exchange sexual favors for drugs.

    Even the CDC notes that needle exchange programs will not resolve this problem. It seems the church would better serve this population by addressing the root problem - drug addiction. Fund a treatment program, but don't enable the IDU to get his or her fix. Maybe the Albany diocese does this already.

    In the end, this initiative is the equivalent of providing condoms under the guise of "safe sex." It may be safer, but people will still end up infected and the church will have played a part in that outcome. Oh, my.
    ReplyDelete
  2. It seems that research can demonstrate a reduction in HIV when needle-exchange programs (NEPs) are in place. Given these results it might be appropriate for public health groups to offers NEPS. Interestingly, one article I read on the effectiveness of NEPs revealed that studies rely heavily on program participants' answers to questions about compliancy. Having worked as a nurse for many years, I know first hand that people often fail to answer health questions honestly. I don't know if that occurred with the NEP studies. Regardless, I don't believe the Church should facilitate this program.
    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)