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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Monkeypox surges among gay men

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor WASHINGTON (LBM)—Although qualifying their statements that monkeypox is not a gay disease, the World Health Organization has announced that the current global outbreak is erupting among “men who have sex with men who have had recent sexual contact with a new partner or partners,” with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stating more mildly that the virus “is spreading mostly through close, intimate contact with someone who has monkeypox.” According to CNN, the CDC considers the risk of infection to be low for the population in general, with scientists clarifying that people are not getting sick simply from walking past someone or giving them a hug or lightly brushing a lesion on the skin. Instead, the higher likelihood of infection is in “back rooms, saunas, or sex clubs, or at sex parties where there’s anonymous contact with multiple partners.” The outbreak likely originated at two gay sex parties, one in Spain and the other in Belgium, according to nbcnews.com. WHO data shows there have been 9,200 cases in 63 countries as of July 19, including 1,972 cases in the United States. WHO is considering the possibility of declaring a “global health emergency.” … [Read more...]

SBC cancels annual meeting

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM)—The Southern Baptist Convention has canceled the annual meet ing that had been scheduled for this summer in Orlando, Florida. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville, made the announcement, saying it was a decision “that has not been made in 75 years,” referencing 1945, during World War II, when the U.S. government banned meetings of groups larger than 50 people. Floyd said the action was consistent with Article XI.4 of the SBC Constitution, which includes the provision, “The Convention officers, the Executive Committee, and the executive heads of the Convention’s boards and institutions acting in a body may, in case of grave emergency, cancel a regular meeting or change the place of meeting.” “In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic which we believe constitutes a grave emergency, it is in the best interest of the SBC to cancel the Annual Meeting … out of a deep concern for the health and safety of messengers and attendees,” Floyd said. His announcement was preceded by a 75-0 vote by the SBC Executive Committee to cancel; combined with a unanimous vote to the same effect by Convention officers and SBC entity heads. … [Read more...]