"the steadying influence of the female"

Hmm.. :-)

Watch it mate, the monsterous regiment are about to attack. :0)
I take your point about the Popes stance. I disagree with him about contraception, but think the Church has a point about abortion, although it is an extremely complex issue even for an atheist like me.

It must be even more difficult for committed Christians like Joe, who happen to have liberal leanings.

If god creates life do we have the right to terminate that life to make our own existence easier?

On hiv transmission, the last I heard UDU infection rates were falling, as were rates for "sex workers".....the only demographic in which the rate is consistantly rising is MSM.