Pope bewails 'scourge' of Thai prostitution
Pope Benedict XVI blamed sex in the media for the prostitution of women and children in Thailand, in comments Friday to bishops from the Southeast Asian nation that is seen as a hub of sex tourism.
"Of particular concern to you is the scourge of the trafficking of women and children, and prostitution. Undoubtedly poverty is a factor underlying these phenomena," the Roman Catholic pontiff told the visiting bishops.
"There is a further aspect which must be... collectively addressed if this abhorrent human exploitation is to be effectively confronted," he added: "The trivialization of sexuality in the media and entertainment industries."
This "fuels a decline in moral values and leads to the degradation of women, the weakening of fidelity in marriage and even the abuse of children".
Pope Benedict called for cooperation between different faiths in Thailand, where 95 percent of the population is Buddhist and Christians represent less than one percent -- including around 300,000 Catholics.
"I wish to express my appreciation for the efforts of the entire Catholic community of Thailand to uphold the dignity of every human life, especially the most vulnerable," he said.
Source: MSN News Thailand
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