Pope Pushes African Abstinence to Battle AIDS

In speaking out on the AIDS epidemic in Africa on his first trip to the continent this week, Pope Benedict XVI had to make one of two choices: one very difficult and one very easy.

The difficult choice would have broken new ground -- centuries of Catholic doctrine -- by acknowledging what world health experts have been preaching for decades: Condoms reduce AIDS rates and should be part of any prevention strategy. ...

The College Survival Guide

A Fridge
Regardless of whether you have a wonderful sized meal plan, your fridge may come in handy with leftovers or when you feel like stocking it with bottled drinks.

Computer
The convenience of a computer is essential when sending your kids off to college. Forget the hike to the computer lab across campus students need a computer in the comfort of their room. A printer comes in handy as well. Depending on whether your child plans to carry his laptop around campus, you might opt for a desk top since they're lighter on the pockets.

Snacks
You will surely survive with off of a meal plan but it doesn't hurt to stock up on snacks when you don't feel like leaving your dorm room. Bottled water, pop corn, cereal and Ramen noodles are all low budget snacks to stock up on. Just be weary of the freshman 15.

Things from home
Some college students suffer from homesickness the first year. It's best to surround yourself with things like photos of the family, pillows or even stuffed animals. Anything that reminds your child of home.

MP3 Player
With all the stress that comes from school and exams, sometimes it's nice to block out the chaos in your life and even your roommate with music. It's nearly impossible to find students walking to class who aren't jamming to tunes.

Budget
Students who enter college often come in at the ripening age of 18. A great time for credit cards. Parents beware, your child may end up ruining their credit at a young age

Alarm Clock
When you're in college you don't have the luxury of getting awaken by your parents. It's now your responsibility to get to class on time so alarm clocks are a must. But keep your roommate in mind. You shouldn't wake him up ever morning with a blow horn alarm.

Cleaning supplies
Now you don't necessarily need to bring in the rubber gloves, mop and gas mask but it doesn't hurt to bring along Clorox all purpose wipes for spills or dust. Vacuums and brooms come in handy too depending if you have a carpeted dorm.

Bedding
What most parents aren't aware of is that most college beds are twin sized but extra long and require special sheets. When shopping keep your eye open for sheets that clearly state 'extra long' or else your child may come up short.

Shower shoes
You really don't know what some people do in the shower these days. College showers are known to be creeping with germs so spare yourself the fungus and purchase flip flops for the shower. You'll thank us later!

The easy choice for the pope was to say what every high-ranking Catholic official has said since the AIDS epidemic began -- sexual abstinence is the only way to battle the disease.

So it should surprise no one that Pope Benedict XVI took the traditional path, while stirring controversy in the world health care community, by restating the church's commitment to abstinence as the chief weapon to battle AIDS.

It is understandable that the Catholic leader holds on to religious doctrine. Decisions on whether to follow the pope's teachings are so personal and individual in nature, no amount of discussion can or should shake them.

But the pope does risk losing some relevance with some of his flock when his edicts seem to fly in the face of today's realities. And I'm not just talking jazz. I was born and baptized a Catholic, and while I am not a regular church-goer, I respect what the pope, and other religious leaders for that matter, try to do to make the world a better place.

That is why I am a little disappointed Pope Benedict XVI didn't make the tough decision and say that condoms deserve at least some role in the war on AIDS. Messages like the one delivered this week increasingly relegate him to the role of the respected but ultimately ignored elder.