Church development group urges Catholic condom change to stem HIV spread
-26/11/06
A h
Church development group urges Catholic condom change to stem HIV spread
-26/11/06
A heath study commissioned by Pope Benedict XVI, which could mean a long-urged change in the anti-condom stance of the Roman Catholic Church, could be an important step forward in the prevention of HIV transmission says a leading British and Irish development agency, Christian Aid.
The report is now being reviewed by theologians at the Vatican for potential use in a Papal document – but experts have said that the Church needs to move quickly to help avert a continuing AIDS disaster.
Pope Benedictís health advisor is now believed to be encouraging him to accept that, in some circumstances, particularly to prevent the transmission of HIV, condoms could be used to save lives.
Until recently many religious leaders, not just those from the Catholic Church, have been reluctant to support condom use because they fear it would promote promiscuity. However, researchers say that there is no evidence that the availability of condoms and educating people to use them to prevent HIV transmission increases the number of sexual partners people have or encourages early sexual debut.
In fact, claim health activists, there is evidence to the contrary ñ that high-quality HIV prevention education can lessen risky sexual behaviour, reduce partner numbers and delay sexual debut. Furthermore, for couples where one partner is HIV-positive and one HIV-negative condoms are truly life saving.
Tandiwe (not her real name), a member of ANERELA+, the African network of religious leaders living with HIV, is a lay minister in South Africa. She is HIV-positive ñ infected by her husband.
“I did not have sex till I was married,” she says, “and I have never had sex with anyone except for my husband. Now he is dead and I have HIV. If only I had know about condoms maybe this would not have happened.”
Rachel Baggaley, head of HIV at Christian Aid: “It would be wonderful if the Vatican could support condom use to prevent HIV. Not only would this prevent the shame and guilt felt by some people but countless HIV transmissions could be avoided.”
She added: “4.3 million people became infected with HIV during 2006, and there were 7,000 new cases in the UK. HIV in an emergency. HIV is preventable and every method of preventing its spread should be used. There is no time for ideology, judgment and dogma. We hope Pope Benedict XVI will be courageous and overcome opposition to condoms in this public health disaster.”
Church development group urges Catholic condom change to stem HIV spread
-26/11/06
A heath study commissioned by Pope Benedict XVI, which could mean a long-urged change in the anti-condom stance of the Roman Catholic Church, could be an important step forward in the prevention of HIV transmission says a leading British and Irish development agency, Christian Aid.
The report is now being reviewed by theologians at the Vatican for potential use in a Papal document – but experts have said that the Church needs to move quickly to help avert a continuing AIDS disaster.
Pope Benedictís health advisor is now believed to be encouraging him to accept that, in some circumstances, particularly to prevent the transmission of HIV, condoms could be used to save lives.
Until recently many religious leaders, not just those from the Catholic Church, have been reluctant to support condom use because they fear it would promote promiscuity. However, researchers say that there is no evidence that the availability of condoms and educating people to use them to prevent HIV transmission increases the number of sexual partners people have or encourages early sexual debut.
In fact, claim health activists, there is evidence to the contrary ñ that high-quality HIV prevention education can lessen risky sexual behaviour, reduce partner numbers and delay sexual debut. Furthermore, for couples where one partner is HIV-positive and one HIV-negative condoms are truly life saving.
Tandiwe (not her real name), a member of ANERELA+, the African network of religious leaders living with HIV, is a lay minister in South Africa. She is HIV-positive ñ infected by her husband.
“I did not have sex till I was married,” she says, “and I have never had sex with anyone except for my husband. Now he is dead and I have HIV. If only I had know about condoms maybe this would not have happened.”
Rachel Baggaley, head of HIV at Christian Aid: “It would be wonderful if the Vatican could support condom use to prevent HIV. Not only would this prevent the shame and guilt felt by some people but countless HIV transmissions could be avoided.”
She added: “4.3 million people became infected with HIV during 2006, and there were 7,000 new cases in the UK. HIV in an emergency. HIV is preventable and every method of preventing its spread should be used. There is no time for ideology, judgment and dogma. We hope Pope Benedict XVI will be courageous and overcome opposition to condoms in this public health disaster.”