Pope Benedict XVI and the culture of life

The Post's coverage of the passing of Pope John Paul II and the election of &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/mailbox/ 22/101/399/15319_Benedict.html ' target=_blank>Pope Benedict XVI generally has been respectful, fair and informative. I cannot say the same for the April 20 editorial on the new pope.

The church does not, as the editorial suggested, reject new medical technologies "out of hand." A number of cardinals have developed extensive knowledge about biomedical issues, and they have spoken authoritatively and deliberately on those issues and their interaction with Catholic doctrine.

With regard to condoms and AIDS, other avenues seem to be just as effective at stopping the spread of this scourge without being based on the assumption that people are too stupid or weak to control their behavior. Pope &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/365/15221_pope.html ' target=_blank>John Paul II argued that people can and should be trusted to make moral choices, tells the Washington Post.