March 18, 2009

Activists Respond to Pope’s Criticism of Condoms

Activists, doctors, politicians and even officials within the Catholic Church are speaking out against a statement by Pope Benedict XVI, who said during a recent trip to Africa that using condoms in the global fight against AIDS only made the epidemic worse by encouraging sexual behavior, Reuters reports.

“My reaction is that this represents a major step backwards in terms of global health education, is entirely counterproductive and is likely to lead to increases in HIV infection in Africa and elsewhere,” said Quentin Sattentau, professor of immunology at Britain’s Oxford University. “There is a large body of published evidence demonstrating that condom use reduces the risk of acquiring HIV infection but does not lead to increased sexual activity.”

The Vatican defended Benedict’s criticism of condoms. Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi affirmed that the pope was “maintaining the position of his predecessors” in advocating abstinence and heterosexual marriage as HIV prevention tools. But others within the Catholic faith are speaking out against the statement.

“Anyone who has AIDS and is sexually active, anyone who seeks multiple partners, must protect others and themselves,” said Hans-Jochen Jaschke, a Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of Hamburg. “So, no taboo on the condom issue, but also no myths and trivialization as if these put the world in order. Condoms can protect, but men often reject them,” the bishop added.

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Previous Comments:

Frederick Wright, TampaBay, FL, 2009-04-29 09:41:05
It is most fascinating how our Latin friends will stand up to write about their faith in a anomalous way. Come out my Catholics brothers and sisters and address the real issues about Parents not doing their job to discuss and talk about Human Sexuality and stop using the Pope as a escape goat. Catholics Stand up in your faith and stop being fake to address the truth ,for it can set one free.

gil telles, el paso, 2009-03-31 10:42:31
It took the catholic church over 400 years to accept the fact that the earth revolved around the sun and that the sun was not the center of the universe. Dismiss the Popes positions regarding condom use as ignorant,misguided and backwords. Its truely a shame that someone of such power can spread such BS!!! Where's our leaders....Bono can you hear me.

Frederick Wright, Tampa, 2009-03-25 17:15:23
Dear Mr. Smith, I guess the best way to settle this debate would ask a youth that was born with HIV a question, if he would rather be borned with HIV or not be borned at all? For me it is not as simple as one makes it out to be. I would not want to be in the Position of a Global Leader to have to make a statment for many, although my faith is not in a Condom. Would you Mr Smith want to make the policy for many in a life or no life statment, for truly this debate has no winners.

CSmith, London, 2009-03-24 21:01:14
It is one thing to follow the word of one's religion. It is another to be a global figurehead in a modern world and simply ignore what the modern world is all about. People are always going to have sex, this has to be acknowledged. For a person so influential to spread such a dangerous message is an horrendous act of irresponsibility. The more moderate Catholic standpoint would suggest that the use of condoms to prevent HIV is the better way to interpret 'the preservation of life'

kolo, somewhere, 2009-03-20 15:43:23
As a catholic christian and someone who is also HIV + I find what the Pope had to say absolutely wrong.I wish he had better counsellors to make it clearer to him. His point of view will only help spread HIV/AIDS

FREDERICK WRIGHT, TAMPA, 2009-03-20 12:44:59
Now, Now, lets learn to disagree, disagreeable. The Pope is just following his conservative base and realy with his words on condoms has opened up the debate again in the Roman Church that takes courage. We must also think that honestly in conversation with kindness can change hearts and minds. The Pope is human and the Roman Chruch are Human. I love the people in the Church, however do not agree with all their policies of old. The Bishop of Rome needs our prayers for more courage of truth

Michael Irwin, London UK, 2009-03-19 18:45:49
The Pope is gay, you think he would know better. I do love his Gucci shoes though. Maybe if Gucci made condoms the Pope would approve of them?

Born-again heathen, Tijuana, 2009-03-19 18:02:06
The international news media is largely to blame for the spread of ignorant and bigoted Roman Catholic Church doctrine proclamations by giving its Hitler Youth veteran pope and its other clergy all of the free publicity that it does as if the church was the fourth branch of government.

jt in p'cola, pensacola, 2009-03-19 16:05:53
That stupid old fool.....making his ignorant Papalett opinionIZed dictates about subjects he fails to understand or comprehend. He mightdo well to focus his holiness' attentions more on the world at large and fixate his opinions on thine holy book of fantacic tales and abundant contradictions in 'god's'humanized WRITEN WORD, ....and address the missing chapters which contradict all the money the catolic church sucks up from the poor to glorify the cellars of the Vatican! AMEN

Alfredo, Baltimore, 2009-03-19 15:26:24
Recently, I was privledged to present a HIV 101 presentation at a local young adult church group. They were open to 21st century discussion. HIV/AIDS is here! The comment on condoms promotion equating to permission of increased sexual activity is rediculous.

Joe, New York, 2009-03-19 13:58:46
This man is an idiot.I'm not surprised about his comment, yet another reason the Catholic church is repressive,ill-educated and a worthless religious practice, unless you are a masochist. It does more harm than good in my opinion.

nellybell, Exeter,PA, 2009-03-19 11:57:51
The Pope doesn't realize that sex isn't the only way to get HIV. What if an HIV + meets and HIV - and they want to marry? Let the HIV - get HIV just so they don't use condoms? What about those who were born with HIV? Are they expected to be celebate like "priests" (that's sarcasm for the priests that molest children)? He is not very medically informed.

Robert Evans, New York, 2009-03-19 11:39:47
A good friend of mine in Atlanta says that the Catholic Church is too concerned about what we do with our dicks. I have HIV, my friend doesn't. We were in Cologne, Germany together just before Benedict came to town. This ban is only going to spread the virus even more.

Carl, New York, 2009-03-19 09:15:24
After just returning from Africa on a photo assignment of Health Care issues, mainly HIV/AIDS, it disgusts me to hear what the Pope has to say about condom use. It shows the world how ignorant the Catholic church really is.

Greg, Notre Dame IN, 2009-03-19 08:30:21
The Catholic machine is so out of touch with the world this does not surprise me.