In Angola Benedict Decries Abuse of Women, Victor L Simpson, Arizona Daily Star, March 21, 2009

In Angola, Benedict Decries Abuse of Women

By Victor L. Simpson
Arizona Daily Star
March 21, 2009

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/285317

A group of pygmies from the Baka tribe performs for Pope Benedict XVI as he leaves the Vatican Embassy in Cameroon on his way to Angola.

LUANDA, Angola — Pope Benedict XVI, welcomed to this sweltering capital Friday by the biggest crowds of his African pilgrimage, condemned sexual violence against women in Africa and chided those countries on the continent that have approved abortion.

Benedict arrived in Luanda on the second leg of his African tour, with tens of thousands pouring into the streets along his motorcade route, honking car horns and slowing traffic to a crawl. Many of the faithful wore white T-shirts emblazoned with the pope's picture and "Welcome to our land" written in Portuguese.

Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos greeted Benedict as he descended from his chartered plane onto a red carpet under a tropical sun that reddened his face.

This former Portuguese colony is mainly Catholic, and Benedict lamented what he called strains on the traditional African family.

"Particularly disturbing is the crushing yoke of discrimination that women and girls so often endure, not to mention the unspeakable practice of sexual violence and exploitation which causes such humiliation and trauma," Benedict told government leaders and foreign diplomats in the late afternoon.

He also criticized what he called the "irony of those who promote abortion as a form of 'maternal' health care." The pope was referring to an African Union agreement signed by Angola and 44 other countries that abortion should be legal in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is endangered.

"How disconcerting the claim that the termination of life is a matter of reproductive health," Benedict said.

Angolans traditionally have large families — the president has nine children — but many say the high cost of living in this oil-rich country makes them want to have fewer children than previous generations.

Earlier, Benedict drew criticism from aid agencies and some European governments when he said that condoms were not the answer to Africa's severe AIDS epidemic, suggesting that sexual behavior was the issue.

Igor Rivas, a 25-year-old student studying economics, was in the crowd of thousands out to welcome the Catholic leader.

"I want the benediction of the pope. I know I am a sinner. I fight to abstain from sex," Rivas said. "I think condoms are not the good way for us. Though they may be useful, they are not the right choice for Catholics, so I need his blessing."

In his remarks to diplomats, Benedict also called for a "conversion of hearts" to Africa of corruption.

The pope arrived in Angola from Cameroon, where his visit was capped Friday morning by a meeting with about 15 pygmies who performed a traditional dance and presented him with a turtle. Vatican officials showed off the turtle in his wooden cage to reporters traveling in the papal plane and said the animal would be taken back to Vatican City.