Condoms:Blight or blessings

Pope Benedict XVI has reportedly said that condoms are not the answer to the AIDS epidemic in Africa and that they can make the problem worse. The Pope’s statement came hours before he arrived in Cameroon on his first official visit to Africa as the Pope.

"You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms," the Pope told reporters, referring to the AIDS epidemic. "On the contrary, it increases the problem."

In his four years as Pope, Benedict had never directly addressed condom use, although his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, often said that sexual abstinence — and not condoms — was the best way to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that any form of birth control, other than natural family planning (the rhythm method) is forbidden. Furthermore, the church explains that the purpose of intercourse is for “procreative" gains, and not for pleasure and other motivations.

Points to consider


Consistent and correct use of condoms has long been acknowledged as a safe anti-HIV transmission strategy. Should information that brings this into disrepute be reported?

As journalists, your role is to report on facts about HIV and known prevention devices. But as human beings with various beliefs and values, this can be challenging. How best can you deal with issues that are controversial around HIV and AIDS, while maintaining the requisite objectivity?

§ What role, if any, do religion and culture play in impeding the response to HIV? What are the different belief systems that abound in your community or country? This information can be used to produce balanced and thought-provoking feature articles or programmes on HIV and AIDS.

§ What do people in your own community feel about condom use, as opposed to abstinence and faithfulness?

Sources:

1. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090317/ap_on_re_af/af_pope_africa

2. http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/catholic_church_aids_africa.html

3. http://www.unfpa.org/supplies/condoms.htm

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_Catholic_Church

5. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/oct/09/aids