Letter to an Atheist by Michael Patrick Leahy

False Statement # 13

Reginald Finger, an Evangelical member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, recently announced that he would consider opposing an HIV vaccine—thereby condemning millions of men and women to die unnecessarily from AIDS each year – because such a vaccine would encourage premarital sex by making it less risky. (Page 28)

This is a complete fabrication on Mr. Harris’ part. Neither the article he cites as a source for this statement (M. Specter, “Political Science,” the New Yorker, March 13, 2006 pages 58-69 contains one quote from Mr.Finger: “With any vaccine for H.I.V. disinhibition”- a medical term for the absence of fear “would certainly be a factor, and it is something we will have to pay attention to with a great deal of care.”. Read that quote carefully. Is there any way an intellectually honest person could construe that statement as an announcement that Mr. Finger would consider opposing an HIV vaccines because such a vaccine would encourage premarital sex by making it less risky ? I confirmed with Mr. Finger in a phone interview on January 19, 2007 that Mr. Specter got the quote in his article right, but that Mr. Harris completely invented a position for Mr. Finger on the HIV vaccine that he does not and never has held.

To comment, please go to the LETTER TO AN ATHEIST BLOG. Comments are welcome.

If you wish to contact us: email@michaelpatrickleahy.com