The Pope talking about condoms. It’s always a recipe for disaster. In fairness to the man, he’s the head of the Catholic Church and he’s never going to condone contraception. But he might be better staying clear of the subject altogether. Comments made by the Pope this week have caused outrage. But was what Pope Benedict said taken out of context and was the Church head misquoted?
Well, having spent a couple of days googling this story in which it is claimed that the pope said the distribution of condoms ‘even’ aggravates the AIDS problem, it seems he was either misquoted by the English speaking media or his own press office and what the Pope actually said was the use of condoms ‘risk’ aggravating the problem of AIDS.
Either way, to link the use of condoms with the spread of AIDS, whether it ‘even’ aggravates the problem or ‘risks’ aggravating the problem is outrageous and outdated, and even dangerous.
But the Vatican press office has responded to articles which appeared after the Pope’s statements. It reaffirmed the church’s commitment in combating the scourge of AIDS through education and other avenues: “With education in personal responsibility in the use of sexuality and with reaffirmation of the essential role of marriage and the family; with research and implementation of effective treatment of AIDS and making it available to the greatest number of sick people through many health initiatives and institutions; with human and spiritual assistance for those with AIDS as for all the suffering, who have always been in the heart of the church.”
The press statement continues: “These are the directions in which the church concentrates its commitment. It does not believe that focusing primarily on a wider distribution of condoms is in reality the best, most far-sighted and effective way to oppose the scourge of AIDS and protect human life.”
The pope, since his election in 2005, has always stuck to the traditional teachings of the Church as the only “failsafe” way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. He has also maintained a strictly traditional line on issues such as abortion, priests marrying, and homosexuality. But his traditional beliefs, which are viewed as archaic by many, are damaging the Church which still has a lot to offer through its teachings.
Telling Africans, where the Church has been growing more quickly than anywhere else in the world, not to use condoms, even to prevent the spread of AIDS, is irresponsible. It was on a plane to Cameroon this week that the controversial remarks were made. This is the pope’s first visit there in four years where a fifth of Africans are Roman Catholic. There are a staggering 22 million Africans infected with HIV sparking a lot of criticism to his comments. Obviously the man is entitled to his opinion but while he is the spiritual leader for approximately one billion people in the world, it’s time he woke up to the realities of a 21st century world. Some Catholics have admitted that the use of condoms is the lesser of two evils when used to prevent the spread of disease and not to prevent the creation of life.
None of us are perfect, least of all the Catholic Church, but human life is precious and if something as simple as a rubber appliance could save lives then the Church should embrace it. HIV/AIDS is not just passed on by unprotected intercourse. There are many other ways these terrible diseases are contracted but if an African man or woman, or any man or woman, found themselves in love with someone who has contracted HIV or AIDS and a condom would offer them a safe and happy life, then that is a sin worth committing if it means everlasting love.
Toni Bourke Editor [email protected]
