Former High Court judge Michael Kirby spoke to a symposium on AIDS and religion this week, arguing that church leaders misrepresent biblical teaching on sexuality, and promote an “irrational hatred of sexual minorities.”
He claimed “the stigma over sexual conduct often taught by religious people” was “a major cause of death in the AIDS epidemic.” Frankly, I find that offensive.
Good sexual ethics rigorously applies reason and tradition, as well as experience, and respects the sacred texts that have guided billions of people for thousands of years.
Every AIDS-related death is a human tragedy, but the cause is not misguided church teaching. The cause is often related to human freedom and failure to pursue the biblical ideal.
The solutions to the perceived problems associated with sexuality are to be found in effective sex education, and safe sex (by which I mean marital faithfulness or harm minimisation), and unconditional compassion, and respect for the moral traditions of the church.
Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 28 March 2010.
