Interview: Cherie Blair 'rather saddened' by Pope's comments
Cherie Blair is a firm believer and champion of women’s rights. She strongly believes women have a choice whether to bear children or not through contraception.
The mother of four, barrister, Queen’s Counsel, and wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, said she felt “rather sad” when she heard Pope Benedict XVI say that condoms “increase the problem” of AIDS during his recent visit to Africa, as well as with the way it was reported.
“I think we do have to understand that there is concern about promiscuity. But there’s also a real concern about saving lives and I absolutely believe, and scientific evidence shows, that condoms do save lives. Therefore, when there’s a choice between endangering and not endangering life, we should always choose life,” she stresses in an interview with Ariadne Massa.
Mrs Blair has never attempted to hide her views on contraception and her reference to “contraceptive equipment” in her book was quickly pounced upon.
She recounts how Leo was conceived because she had decided to leave this ‘equipment’ behind during the couple’s visit to Balmoral, the Queen’s residence in Scotland, after a diligent courtier had embarrassingly unpacked her overnight bag during the previous visit.
Mrs Blair has never revealed what this equipment could possibly be, and as she sits back into the sofa in the Phoenicia Hotel’s lounge, her eyes twinkle teasingly.
Watch excerpts of the interview above. Read the entire interview in today’s edition of The Sunday Times.
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Tone Marolt
Apr 10th 2009, 13:35
Until now, the Pope hasn't said anything on the question weather the use of condoms to reduce the risk of HIV infection is sinful or not. Many bishops and cardinals are saying it's not.
Edward Green is not the only researcher criticizing the current HIV prevention strategies:
James Chin, The AIDS Pandemic: The Collision of Epidemiology With Political Correctness, Radcliffe Publishing, Oxford, Seattle 2007.
http://www.theaidspandemic.com
HIV/AIDS expert Helen Epstein:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSPk8K5zK3I
Dambisa Moyo: In Africa, $1 trillion of aid has not worked. In fact it is making things worse.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/reviews/r0000439.shtml
Joe Portelli
Apr 10th 2009, 09:07
Mrs Blair is a Politician's wife with signs of a widespread distrust of universal and absolute statements, similar that exist among those who think that truth is born of consensus and not of a consonance between intellect and objective reality.... Faith thus becomes the convinced and convincing advocate of reason." Christ's (life) Church is thus protected from being run on consensus, non other by the Pope - In the meantime Mrs Blair prefers to have even our faith run by consensus; in other words impose mob rule on a tolerant and religious belief !
Joe Xuereb (London UK)
Apr 7th 2009, 22:51
The suggestion that the HIV virus will be avoided through abstention of sexual activity is misleading. There are various instances of possible infection other than through sex. Fidelity within marriage is another fallacy. In theory, a couple can promise each other all sorts of things. However, short of physically chaining a partner to oneself, a 100% certainty is not guaranteed. A false sense of security is no security and once doubts and questions start to creep in, these can undermine the most solid of relationships. It is the nature of the beast. Inescapable fact. Which leaves the condom. To be used conscientiously. Because they can fail through slipping off. People can be taught how to use them in all manner of ways. A man of the cloth demonstrating on a phallic symbol would seem rather untoward. So he is not likely to be much help in offering advice on sexual matters, physical or emotional.
Simply because he is not supposed to know these things. These matters are best left to experts trained in these matters.
John Samut-Tagliaferro
Apr 7th 2009, 17:21
I prefer getting my medical information from doctors (Edward Green is not a medical doctor) than from popes. The Lancet is a good source.
Arthur Soler
Apr 7th 2009, 16:17
The Catholic media did a great job using the Harvard Professor Dr Edward Green`s position to justify the Pope's remarks on Condoms. However, his opinion was overwhelmingly opposed by a large majority of equally competent researchers and scientists.
In any event, the Catholic press did not accurately portray his complete views on the matter. While he did say that he agreed with the Pope that Abstinence and Being Faithful are crucial, he also said that Condons should also be used as a back up. Conveniently, the Catholic press omitted reference to latter.
HIs exact quote is as follows...
"I believe condoms should be made available to everyone. It should be the ABC strategy: Abstain, Be faithful, use a Condom".
The Catholic Church's ethical opposition to birth control and support of marital fidelity and abstinence is well known. But, by saying that condoms exacerbate the problem of HIV/AIDS, the Pope has publicly distorted scientific evidence. In fact, amidst the fury, even the Vatican tried to alter the pontiff's wording. On the Holy See's website, the Vatican's head of media, Father Federico Lombari, quoted the Pope as having said that there was a "risk that condoms...might increase the problem.
Joe Xuereb
Apr 7th 2009, 12:47
To criticize the Pope is anathema. This is why believers in papal dictum are stuck. People who overcome this criticism hurdle, soar. They start to understand things previously unfathomable. A greater clarity of vision in effect. Paradoxically, by learning the intricacies of 'sin' they end up committing fewer of them. Sin becomes redundant. Free-reining reason takes over.
The use of condoms can be erratic. Through the state of mind of the user. Alcohol abuse, etc. Condoms can and do slip. The warning on the pack refers to this without spelling it out.
It is a blanket approach to condom misuse for whatever reason by the company that makes them. It is put on the pack to safeguard itself against litigation. A bit like the warning on packs of cigarettes. It is to promote health of course but equally important, it is a safety net against litigation suits. That is all. One does not need to consult a theologian, much less be one, to understand this. Engage with life and reject spurious dogmas and life can in fact seem almost sweet. From then on, take responsibility for your life. Simple as buon giorno.
Martin Spiteri
Apr 7th 2009, 11:50
@john Samut-Tagliaferro
The Church has got itself entangled in its own rules. The Church first of all has to admit that it has always questioned science and reason. I know that condoms are not the best way, neither is an umbrella or a raincoat on a rainy day! But we still try to keep as much rain water of our bodies even though we still get a few drops of rain.
IF one is not a theologian does not mean we do not have a brain. If we take rules just to be obeyed without question read Christ at the well and the donkey. Christ declares that laws are their to guide us not to enslave us. When we quote the law as the church dictates we are only becoming fundamentalists. Fundamentalism only brings about misery. Thanks to reason I still am a Catholic and I laugh at many stupid ideas of the church. The Church is only a group of people governed by someone who thinks he can be believed. What is important is Human respect and love , That is Gods will.
john Samut-Tagliaferro
Apr 6th 2009, 23:22
@Alfred Camilleri
Don't ask me. Ask the church i.e a Catholic theologian.
Alfred Camilleri
Apr 6th 2009, 20:11
@Mario Tabone Vassallo. As Joe Xuereb said, what has 'condom' use to do with politics? And why did you write your comment, in an English language blog, in Maltese? Perhaps to spare Mrs Blair's feelings, since she doesn't read Maltese. @ J. Samut Tagliaferro. Where is it stated that 'this condom business' forms part of God's Natural Law (your capitals)? C. James Your comments and suggestions cannot be taken seriously. @J. Farrugia. Be informed before you scribble down your comments. C. Cassar put you right regarding Cherie and Tony Blair's faiths. You must have been caught in a time warp. You seem to be living in the time of the Inquisition. 'Maria Formosa.Doesn't Cherie Blair, or anybody else for that matter, have the right to feel saddened and to criticize comments made by the pope.. I do sometimes. So, should I abandon my moral values and adopt yours?
Kaydee Zammit
Apr 6th 2009, 16:58
@ J Farrugia You contradict yourself. First you say that it's wrong to have a baby outside of wedlock, and then you say that you ruin your partner'f life by wearing a condom. Why is that so? In my opinion, a condom is a far milder thing than a baby. A baby can ruin a life much more effectively and expensively.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Apr 6th 2009, 13:51
@Joe Tabone-Adami
Since Leo turned out to be perfectly healthy and Mrs Blair sufferred no birth complications I would refer to Leo as a blessing or “zball sabih hafna” (as we Maltese say in such circumstances) while still admiring Mrs Blair for being responsible enough to take side-effect-free contraceptive measures – particularly because of her age then and because of the fact that she already had three children. With the global population at least twice what it ought to be for environmental health and sustainability I for one admire couples who limit the size of their family even though they can afford more children just as much as I admire people who refrain from siring children if they have very serious genetic defects they could pass on or if they feel they will not be sufficiently committed to bringing them up well enough.
Pierre Portelli
Apr 6th 2009, 13:23
I fail to understand the consistency in Catholic teaching regarding contraception; what makes the Billings method acceptable and a condom not acceptable? However it is extremely dangerous to give the general public that one is safe from venereal diseases like AIDS simply by using a condom...the condom is a contraceptive device and offers VERY limited protection from disease...condom manufacturers even claim this on the packet to be sure they are not held liable.
Joe Portelli
Apr 6th 2009, 12:50
As leader of the Church and Religion one (Pope) can state what the policy ought to be, he is no dictator and the rest is between God and Individual, who both know what the real practice is. If Cherie really wants to help Women than she could help educate and those that educate and support women (and their families). Her previous party did more damage to sanctity of family rights in UK than any other governement - all on the premises of liberalisation, now we have no Tax allowances for family or married folks and nothing that benefits bringing up children within a family. So her Religious views were always different to what the Catholic Pope preached and this is not her first time being 'SAD' . As for leaving the 'equipment' behind, ? What happened to responsibility for whatever we do? She is a great barister and always insists that we are responisible for our actions. Her view on these matters is of concern, does it mean that her children are not welcomed? Does one not understand the bond that develops within a family when children arrive?
James Formosa
Apr 6th 2009, 09:28
The Church and a lot of its followers (some have also commented hereunder) need to get their head out of the sand. What is wrong with condoms or contraception!! The 'safe' period is a natural contraception is it not? So that's fine while using a rubber shield is not? Come on!!! Get out of the Middle Age mentality. The Church needs to wake up and get out of its Old ways if it wants to survive in the future - otherwise the rest us will move on. I have!
Andre Pizzuto
Apr 6th 2009, 03:27
Dear Maria, We ALL have the right to criticize the Pope. Luckily we're not in the ages of the Inquisition when ppl were tortured and burnt by the Church for disagreeing with it.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 5th 2009, 22:14
@ Maria Formosa: This is an age where no human being is seen anymore to be infallible. So, why should anyone not 'dare' criticise even the Pope?
MARIA FORMOSA
Apr 5th 2009, 20:14
hOW dare Cherie Blaire say that she feels saddened by the pope s stance on condoms? The fact that she is a great champion of the contraceptive mentality does not give her a "carte blanche" to criticize the pope just because her morals are incompatible with the church s teachings on family planning e.g. HUMANAE VITAE by POPE PAULVI.If she were a truly faithful catholic as she professes to be she ought to follow the catholic norms which the same catholic church endorses and not expect that these norms be stretched to suit her own moral values
edwin formosa
Apr 5th 2009, 20:12
Harvard AIDS Expert Supports Pope's Contraception Comments
Edward C. Green, director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, said that research into the spread of AIDS actually supports the position of the Catholic Church and the pope.
"The Pope is correct … the best evidence we have supports the Pope's comments," Green said, according to National Review Online.
"There is a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the US-funded 'Demographic HealthSurveys,' between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV-infection rates," he explained. "This may be due in part to a phenomenon known as risk compensation, meaning that when one uses a risk-reduction 'technology' such as condoms, one often loses the benefit (reduction in risk) by 'compensating' or taking greater chances than one would take without the risk-reduction technology."
Sandra Camilleri
Apr 5th 2009, 19:22
Excellent interview Ariadne. What baffles me is that a woman of the calibre of Cherie Blair who managed to balance a high-flying career with bringing up four chldren while also being prime minister's wife, writes in the manner she did. I read her book and was really disappointed by the way she went on about personal details which are nobody's business but her own and her husband's. In my opinion she should have stuck to recounting her interesting life, the intimate details between her and her husband should have remained in the bedroom. I had read most reviews of her book in the English broadsheets and this critique about over-intimate details which we could have been spared was the common denominator.
Stephen Borg Cardona
Apr 5th 2009, 18:33
If as the Catholic Church says all sex should be open to life, to follow this rule they should completely forget about ANY form of contraception ! In the meantime, i strongly suspect that condemning millions of Africans to death from AIDS by being anti condom is a far bigger sin than actually using a condom could ever be.
A. Muscat
Apr 5th 2009, 17:53
@ J Farrugia
Well said. Many, including the church just push around the sub-issue (Condoms) and don’t talk or keep mum about the core issue (Love making outside or before marriage). The Church does not want to look reactionary, while the government scared to lose votes. And we tax payers are the victims.
The numbers of out-of-wedlock babies increases alarmingly and both government and Church must find a solution. tax payers should never foot the bills of other 's recklesnes.
John Samut-Tagliaferro
Apr 5th 2009, 17:50
@Gerry Cowie
You have misinterpreted Mrs Blair's statement. "When there's a choice .......... we should always choose life" clearly means: use a condom as a protection against AIDS, which can kill you.
Michel Bencini
Apr 5th 2009, 17:49
It is understandable for the pontiff to encourage abstenance before marriage. That is an ideal. Unfortunately, that is not how the world of homo sapiens works. Religion must also deal with the realities of everyday life. Chirst, in His Gospel, consistently touched on the everyday mores of human behaviour to enhance a better moral code. I bet you, that if the Lord were around, he definitely would not ignore the plight of the AIDS epidemic and its complex consequences. Even if people abstained before the sacremental marriage date, there is a great chance of one party being infected if the other were unfaithful or played around on the side without tje spouse's knowledge. Is it morally right to knowingly or unknowingly infect an innocent marriage partner? What about the children of infected mothers? Do they somehow deserve to have the sins of the parents passed on to them? What does the Church have to say about this, beyond the fatalistic grin and bear it approach?
The Church must change with the times. If it does not, it will be unfortunately ignored or treated as irrelevant. Just look around you. Less people heed it.
John Meilak
Apr 5th 2009, 17:30
@ J Farrugia
Oh please, we've heard enough of such diatribes. What about the witch hunts and persecutions where thousands of people were tortured and burnt at the stake. That is genocide. Who instigated it? The Church. I think that is a far worse sin than using a condom. The world is already overloaded with people. Although contraceptives are not 100% failsafe at least they can stem the tide of overpopulation. I think it would more irresponsible not to use a condom and then not taking responsibility of bringing a child into the world.
Andrew Cassar
Apr 5th 2009, 17:25
@C James
Actually she does represent the views of most catholics. The drop in births in western catholic nations is testimony to it. As time and time again the vatican will be proven wrong, they don't decide what is sin or not!
How dare she be saddened?? Since when do people need your permission to be saddened by something??
Billing's method 100% effective....you must be joking!!!
J Farrugia
Apr 5th 2009, 17:12
G Schembri - the greatest sin is to make love without being married. to concieve a child without being prepared. To give life to a child and then abandon its mother and the baby and refuse responsibility. Wearing condoms means that you want to ruin your partner's life. wearing condoms is not 100% safe and this is a fact. These are the greatest sins. Irresponsibility. And in Malta we have thousands today.
Gerry Cowie
Apr 5th 2009, 16:31
Since people like to pick and choose those bits they like, I should like to focus on Mrs Blair's statement:-
"when there’s a choice between endangering and not endangering life, we should always choose life”
Mrs Blair went on to show that she meant that by proceeding with her pregnancy and giving birth to their son.
Let us hope that those who praise her just because she promotes contraception will also praise her for her commitment to human life from the moment of conception.
And let us also remember that with every right there comes a responsibility.
Jeremy Lanfranco
Apr 5th 2009, 16:20
I loved this interview but my hat also goes off to Ms Ariadne Massa who diligently orchestrated this friendly style interview with such a beautiful composure. Keep it up Adiadne.
P.S. You should consider working in TV journalism!!
G.Schembri
Apr 5th 2009, 15:29
Are you serious? Do you really believe it's a sin to use condoms or any other type of contraception? The greatest sin would be to have a child you cannot raise properly because of financial or health problems. It's easy to tell people to refrain from using contraception then ignore them when in need.
@ C James No contraceptive method is 100% effective let alone Billings method. Abstinance is not a contraceptive method, nor is it a natural method, actually it's very unatural. When it comes to the teaching of the church let us not forget the infants who died before baptism, we were always taught they went to "Limbu" can you imagine what their parents felt. Now we learn "Limbu does not exsit. By the way we still have to change that bit in the Crede .
@ John Samut-Tagliaferro . Where did God or Christ tell us not to use contraception. By the way natural contraception was also a sin up to the 1960s.
Albert Muscat
Apr 5th 2009, 15:22
Was Ms. Cherie Blair’ speech a Pro-bono?
------------------------------------------
Ex PM Tony Blair tops world's most expensive speeches. For a 45 minutes speech Mr. BLAIR charges 500,000 USD!!!!
Little calculations shows that what Mr. Blair make in a minute more than what I make it in a whole year!!!
http://money.canoe.ca/Forbes/2008/03/20/5058686.html
C Cassar
Apr 5th 2009, 15:12
C James
What on earth are you talking about? Billings method 100% effective?! At what, preventing HIV contagion? I guess you're joking, right?
And then you put the icing on the cake by mentioning abstinence! As if African women with philandering HIV positve husbands have the option of abstaining!
C Cassar
Apr 5th 2009, 15:04
j farrugia
Cherie Blair is and has always been a catholic! It is Tony who converted recently, not the other way round!
J Farrugia
Apr 5th 2009, 14:48
first neither she nor her husband were ever disowned by their electorate. Anzi Tony Blair may rest assured that his name is in the history books for being the only Labour PM to win elections in a row and were it not for the laboru demons within his own party he would have had another chance,. But some commies in his labour party stabbed him in the back like some tories did to Margaret Thatcher. Secondly I dont agree with Cherie Blair since she is not a catholic. She is trying to learn to be a catholic like her husband, but when someone converts to catholicism they are bound to agree to what the Pope Preaches. we shall have none of what used to be during King Henry 8th I believe when the protestant shism started. Either you agree with our catholic faith or dont even mention any conversions at all. Being a prima donna does not allow you to try and denigrate the Pope who speaks after having held council with several advisors and all knowledgable. Who are Chrie Blair's advisers may I ask.
John Samut-Tagliaferro
Apr 5th 2009, 14:16
@Martin Spiteri
I'm not sure you're correct. The way I know it is that the church says that this condom business is God's Natural Law, is immutable and can never change. It's not a law of the church e.g. like eating meat on friday or whether or not a woman can become a priest, which CAN change. So the church will never be in a position to change, or offer an apology, on this matter.
C James
Apr 5th 2009, 14:05
Cherie Blair's views are not representative or taken seriously by devout practicing Roman Catholics. She cannot make what is wrong right just to suit her lax morals; her husband too uses the faith when it suits, when he was pm Cardinal Basil Hume who was then the head of the Catholic church in England and Wales wriote to him telling him to refrain from taking holy communion because he was not then a catholic. As for her last child, she should remember 'Man proposes, God disposes'. Times may change but God doesn't. Jesus said to Peter "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community, and the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bound on earth will be bound in heaven ; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" Pop Benedict is his successor. How dare Cherie Blair feel saddened! We are human and we fall, and each time we must try again and keep on trying by the grace of God, but we can never justify sin . The Billings method is 100% effective so is abstinance.
J Cutajar
Apr 5th 2009, 12:52
I agree with Mrs.Blair, although British politics have nothing to do with us here in Malta, however she is a very inteligent and a very successful barrister in her own right. I was born a catholic and believe in my God, however men made do's and don'ts do not exactly work anymore in the 21st century,there are thousands of children & people starving,dying of ads/HIV in countries such as Africa amongst others,however we are not living in the days of the ark anymore and its about time inteligent people come to term to realise that not all the church teachings are absolutly 100%, ofcourse people can make their own mind as what to believe or not but then thats their perogative, i just follow statics and common sence.
Joe Xuereb
Apr 5th 2009, 11:40
I am not a great fan of Cherie Blair but the woman is capable of reason.
To the Pope's Maltese apoplogists, and the Blairs' detractors - amazing! We are talking 'condom' and they start talking 'foreign politics'. Amazing!
Martin Spiter
Apr 5th 2009, 11:18
I am fully in agreement with Mrs Blair. I am not going to speak about english politics because it is not the case here. I would like to stick to her comments which I fully support. The church is stuck in paranioa and laws imposed by councils which contradict one another in time. The Church would like to show itself as a defensor of nature and the natural, but the church has always destroyed what it refuses to understand. Let us not go into historic details and accounts. But when the church makes an apology 400 years later after realising that it was in the wrong I would say better say nothing. Now the church has its canons aimed at homosexuality and condoms. When the church realises the mistake 300 years to come I would tell the church to go to hell. I need the apology today and not in 300 years time. It is so arrogant to refuse humanity as God has created it and not humanity as the church expects God to create it. Thank you Mrs Blair for facing facts in a very prudent way. Others hide behind pillars of laws made by men .
Marianne Mercieca
Apr 5th 2009, 11:16
@Joe Tabone-Adami
Many children brought to this world were unplanned but that does not mean that they are not the 'dear child of loving parents' and unloved - far from it
Margaret Richards
Apr 5th 2009, 10:56
Women's Rights are being trampled upon by so called 'dignified' men. Let's hope that there will be more women who take up the example of Cherie Blair, and who would not be afraid to speak out, what they believe in, even if their beliefs do not go down well with these 'dignified' men. And these so called 'dignified men' are not only the ultra conservative ones, but also those who profess liberal thought, here in Malta, but who, are being the first to denounce women's rights. Let's hope that more people realize this.
Joe Tabone-Adami
Apr 5th 2009, 10:52
Should we, therefore, call young Leo Blair "a dear child of loving parents and of a provident Creator" or, simply, "an unplanned and undesired accident"?
R.Vella
Apr 5th 2009, 10:51
I agree with Cherie.But the Pope is a human like me he can slip a little!!, Let us all of us who are beleivers pray for him and continue to live our Faith in Jesues Christ and in him.
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Apr 5th 2009, 10:40
Bir-rispett kollu u nixtieqilha l-gid, izda sew hi sew zewga sfiducati f'pajjizhom u mhux mieghi biss