SECBH%CUNYVM.BITNET@oac.ucla.edu (10/11/90)
The _New York Post_ of October 11, 1990 carries a story on Cardinal O'Connor's latest Neanderthal foray into realm of public health. Some excerpts: Front page headline shows a picture of the Card with a headline in 2.75 inch type, "IT'S A SIN", followed in smaller type.."O'Connor blasts city's safe-sex plan for dying AIDS patients" A small block of text says: "John Cardinal O'Connor says officials are pressuring Catholic hospitals to instruct AIDS patients that masterbation is the safest form of sex. With Church teaching holding that masturbation is a sin, the Cardinal is adamant in his opposition to the plan." Continued on page 5, some excerpts: "In an October 2 meeting with some 50 Catholic, Protestant and Jewish leader at this Catholic Center office, O'Connor attacked unnamed government official, said a highly relieable source. "There is pressue on the Catholic Church, one of the largest provider of care for AIDS paitents in the city, (to) agree to all kinds of things, like group masturbation," O'Connor told the session according to the source. "O'Connor, whose hosptials receive much of their funding from the government, has sparred publicly in the past with government officials over safer sex instruction. "'That people in our municipal government would actually present this to the archbishop of New York is incredible',McCarthy (a monsignor who is O'Connor's secy) told the Post." The article goes on to cite denials from city and State representatives - as well as Catholic spokesmen - denying that the Church was requested to use pornographic films or allow patients to engage in group masturbation. An official spokesman for O'Connor reminded the Post that the RC church forbids masturbation as well as instructing AIDS-infected women about abortion. The Card seems to have had tremedous difficulty all along is seeing AIDS a health issue, despite the fact that several of his health care facilities have survived due only to government monies. If our public officals weren't so gutless in the face of religious interference, they should be telling this jerk to play ball or lose the bucks. If religious institutions are going to suck on the public teat they shouldn't talk while their mouths are full. Jack Carroll