As Argentina's Macri attempts progressive makeover, millions are spent on abstinence advocate

[sandensea]

As Argentina's Senate debates legalizing elective abortion, President Mauricio Macri has come under fire after proof emerged that his Social Development Ministry budgeted over 121 million pesos ($4.3 million) this year to a non-profit run by a far-right abstinence advocate, Dr. Abel Albino.

Albino, 71, considers sex "addictive," masturbation "a tyranny," homosexuality "a disease," and contraception "assisted fornication plans."

A member of the ultra-conservative Catholic sect Opus Dei, he opposes abortion even in cases of rape, incest, or to save a mother's life.

Speaking during Senate testimony on July 25, Albino defended his stance on reproductive rights by claiming that "condoms protect against nothing, since HIV can go through porcelain."

Macri, whose approval has plummeted to around 30% amid the worst recession since 2002, has attempted to win back moderate voters by hinting he'd sign the elective abortion bill should the Senate approve it.

A very good job

Documents show that Albino's CONIN Foundation has already received 62 million pesos ($4 million at the time) during Macri's first two years in office (2016 and 2017).

The funds, earmarked for "childhood malnutrion prevention," are in sharp contrast to Macri's cuts in nutrition assitance and school lunch programs, which according to activists has led to 5 million fewer liters of milk for poor children this year amid rising demand.

Albino has described poverty as a matter of "genetic potential" and "mental weakness."

Malnutrition, he believes, "is a cultural disease that occurs in places where sex takes place compulsively."

A 2009 study of CONIN's nutrition programs show no significant difference in height and weight outcomes between children enrolled in CONIN and the control group.

Speaking in Johannesburg during the BRICS summit earlier this week, Macri nevertheless defended Albino as doing a "very good job."

Reproductive health avocates have condemned Macri for cutting HIV prevention and treatment spending, and for eliminating the National Sexual Health and Responsible Parenthood Program - a program established by Congress in 2002.

Both cuts had been advocated by Dr. Albino.

At: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pagina12.com.ar%2F131088-amigos-son-los-amigos-en-las-buenas-y-en-las-malas&edit-text=

Macri and his unofficial health minister, Dr. Abel Albino, whose foundation has received over $8 million in federal funds since 2016 despite deep cuts elsewhere in the health budget.

Argentina's best-known abstinence crusader, Albino rails against sex - but seems to enjoy screwing taxpayers.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Oh __________ my ___________ God. What kind of critter is this Dr. Abel Albino, anyway?

He is certifiable. He must have made a deal to take the children's milk money from Macri, and give him half of it back, and they both are making out like bandits.

He is doing NOTHING to improve the lives of the people of the country. He is doing so much damage.

He has gone full throttle Bull Goose Looney. Full speed, wide open madness. Their actions against humanity are also insanely rude, impolite, crude, stupid, and vicious.

People are suffering, children are hurt by them.

In that picture they look as if they have both been hit on the top of the head with a large mallet. They have been caught without a thought in their heads, and none on the way.

It would be great to hear a U.S. Southerner with a severe drawl pronounce "Dr. Abel Albaaaaanooo." That could have us laughing for months.

You would never expect this kind of thing to happen in any government at any time other than Argentina or the US during the time of Macri and Trump.

These sentences need to be read again to be even partially believed:

The funds, earmarked for "childhood malnutrion prevention," are in sharp contrast to Macri's cuts in nutrition assitance and school lunch programs, which according to activists has led to 5 million fewer liters of milk for poor children this year amid rising demand.

Albino has described poverty as a matter of "genetic potential" and "mental weakness."

Malnutrition, he believes, "is a cultural disease that occurs in places where sex takes place compulsively."

Very glad to see this article, because it is a horrendously clear revelation of just how extreme, how contemptuous this President is of the very people who elected him. He has harmed absolutely everyone but the slimiest, most devious greedy people in the country, the people just like him.

[sandensea]

2. They do indeed sound like a lot of the Deep South Republicans I've known.

Though I should note that some of the most progressive people are also white Southerners (Elizabeth Warren, Ann Richards, Lawton Chiles, Bill Moyers, Jim Hightower, to some extent Bill Clinton, etc).

I suppose it's because they've seen just how ugly these right-wingers can get.

Every region in the U.S. (and of course, every country) has them of course; but few are as downright passionate in their hatred as Deep South Republicans.

The fact that many - to this day - believe that they "lost the War" on account of Black people, certainly doen't help matters.

That, of course, extends to reproductive issues - which has often been attibuted to mysogyny. Bunch of cave-dwellers.

Thank you, Judi, for posting news of this tragic incident in Argentina. May I post this article to the Women's World forum? (https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/one-woman-has-died-since-argentina-rejected-abortion-bill.html)

Very concise, and, I think, very well-written. Thanks in advance for finding it!

[Judi Lynn]

3. Absolutely, please do post it there. Didn't take long before the first needless, sorrowful death.

Hope it will inspire more people to work hard to win women's rights soon.

Thank you, sandensea.

[sandensea]

4. One and done!

Here it is: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1184540

Women's rights, as Carter has pointed out, are above all human rights. It never ceases to amaze me how, in 2018, we still have to even discuss this.

Thanks again!