I can see both views on the debate against HIV. Even though abstinence is the belief of the catholic church, I think that in a place like Africa, condoms shouldn't be brushed aside. If people want to have sex, they will do so. Passing out condoms will help lower the risk. However, preaching abstinence might also have a positive impact. http://www.newsy.com/videos/pope_s_condom_remarks_stir_debate This site looks at both sides of the argument and brings up some interesting points.

I understand the Popes response in that he believes that in supporting condom use he is supporting pre-marital sex. I also agree when he says, "a spiritual and human renewal bringing a new way of behaving towards one another; and secondly, true friendship, above all with the suffering, a readiness - even through personal sacrifice - to stand by those who suffer".

But the reality is that one can not place upon unbelievers your belief as fact or reality. Condoms do save lives as well as stop unplanned pregnancy and that is something that I believe the church should and needs to stand up for.

Condoms will not wipe out sexual transmission of AIDS and other STIs/STDs simply because they're not 100% effective (when used) and are not consistently used - abstinence will prevent the sexual transmission of AIDS (except in extremely limited circumstances).

Condoms support a notion of freedom to initiate sex with anyone and seemingly without consequence. I'm not a Catholic but I'm with the pope on this.

"One cannot place upon unbelievers your belief as fact..." I think that's why they are called unbelievers. I doubt there is a single unbeliever who is declining to use condoms because of the Pope's position.

And to be clear, the Catholic Church is not stopping anyone from using a condom. The Church has chosen not to provide them and warns that they are not a true solution to the problem. Those who disagree with the Church are free to take their chances.

The comments of the Pope on this is quite clear and self explanatory, if anyone thinks otherwise the choice is his/hers. Let us be frank with ourselves, to abstain will go a long way in saving lives. For those who are already infected, all hope is not lost, God can do the unimaginable. We owe it a duty to show love and care to the infected, that way they feel secure.

We need to understand the science of condoms, to see a big reason why the Pope is right! The HIV cell is 25 times smaller than the head of a sperm. Condoms are porous, and the HIV cell CAN and does get through! Then factor in the failure and breakage rate of condoms, and you have a false sense of security and a real health issue. Check the facts, abstinence is the only 100% way to avoid HIV! Turn back to God!

That controversy on Pope's condemnation od the condom use draws me the comment that the Pope should add that the Church's teaching is directed first to the Christian people and upon all the Catholics. Those who don't believe or are faithful to other religions are free to use the condoms as they want. It is not the Pope's duty to tell when to or not to use the condom.
If one wants to follow the Christ let him take his cross with all the discomforts this may bring in his life, including that of being loyal to his/her spouse, not to have intercourses with everyone outside the wedlock, not to fornicate if celibate, not to rape etc... etc...
If you cannot at least accept all that, you cannot call yourself a Christian. Hence the condom fits you well and you may take it as your banner

You cannot accomplish a good through an evil means. You cannot have it both ways - a condom cannot be the part of the problem and the soluction, which of course, contradicts itself, and God is not contradictory. We must go after the sin, since it is really sin that infects and destroys the world - AIDs and HIV came to us because of sin. We cannot say it is wrong to fornicate, but since you are going to do it anyway, here is the evil means to do it. That is like telling a 2 year old, "You cannot play with matches - it is dangerous, but since I know you will play with matches anyway, here are the matches, and pot of water to put out the fire." The Pope is correct, but to debate whether or not he is correct is like debating whether Jesus is correct when He said, "Love your neighbor", which is precisely what the Pope is saying. Hate the sin, and give compasion and love to the sinner, but help him not to sin anymore - have compassion for your neighbor's soul.

So when are free low-tar cigarettes and methadone and whatever is the "safer" version of crack going to be distributed so other habits with a high mortality or morbidity can be engaged in without as much worry?

I would also think castration would work for men, but having orgies and debauches seems to be a right greater even than the right to life.

Africa is full of human beings, fallen but redeemable. It is the height of racism to treat the population as those "ooga-booga" natives from the old Tarzan movies and assume they are completely devoid of temperance and self-control.

The Pope is calling them to live up to their humanity whereas the "health" bureaucracy is telling them to descend to their most bestial.

Let's see, Thailand gives out condoms like candy, the Philippines follow Catholic Church teaching. Aids rate per million: Thailand--9,032, Philippines: 113.
“Counting on condoms is flirting with death.” Dr. Helen Singer?Kaplan, founder of the Human Sexuality Program at the New York Weill Cornell Medical Center, Cornell University.
For a full exposé on the futility of condoms go to:http://www.hli.org/condom_expose_complete.html#20
The pope is absolutely right.
Contraception is clearly condemned in the Bible (Genesis, Chapter 38) and we know that contraception was the gateway for abortion--that is the strategy of those who promote abortion.

The issue at hand is as old as the book of Genesis. The serpent or Satan ,in a very sly and strategic way, captivated the minds of our first parents making them believe a lie. Well in today's world, people still fall for the same lie except that today, there are many,many lies. If one truly believes that our God is a loving God and creating life is an act of love, then condoms or whatever method is used, is interfering with that purpose and it is wrong. Our pride, our selfishness but especially our lack of trust in Him are the real problems facing us.The rest is just gibberish. The Pope has made it very clear many times. We are living in world right now, where many rationalize their personal needs which are generated by humanistic ideals.True love is from God alone. Humanistic love does not want to bow to this kind od love which has a Divine origin.Feeling sorry for Africa by encouraging the distribution of condoms appears generous and good, but it is a great counterfeit for the Truth. John.

The facts of the matter are that "sex education" in schools in the UK and across much of Europe involves demonstrating how to use condoms, their use is widely promoted and they are available almost everywhere ... despite this, rates of HIV and other STDs have increased, in some places by 100%, in others by 500% and some STDs have even gone up by 1000%. Clearly promoting condoms or making them available does not work!

The promotion and distribution of condoms has one effect - escalation: a sex-without-consequence mentality which leads to increased promiscuity which in turn leads to increased rates of infection.

Condoms are part of the problem, not the cure!

The answer to the HIV/AIDS epidemic is not condoms. The problem is this: Sex has been reduced to a mere recreational sport, and that mentality has bred nothing but tragedy in Africa, the United States, and all over the world. We have lost sight of what sex is supposed to be about.

What needs to be learned and promoted everywhere is discipline, self-control, respect for one another, and the true meaning of sexuality. Sex is sacred!

Please read up on a way of life called the Theology of Body. TOB is the answer and the antidote to the AIDS crisis.

Condoms are absolutely wrong, and so the Holy Father is absolutely right. Beside who on earth will have the right to say that the Holy Father is wrong? Whatever and whenever he teaches the Church's only option is to accept and take it as it,a true and perfect teaching of Christ Himself Who Is the Bridegroom of His Bride the Church.
May his holiness will never feel alone in protecting and defending the truth.
Mary Mother of the Church, pray for us.
God bless
Sr. Theresa

It amazes me how the attackers are quick to quote "protect human life" while they propogate abortion.

The pope was right and people simply dont want to make sacrifices or to face consequences against their actions. Peopele want to do what they want but not face consequences. It takes hard work to live according to God's law (whereas men create laws of conveniences).

I can absolutely understand what the church's stance on this issue, condoms will not solve the epidemic, it will only be solved by abstinence and education like the pope said. However, i would have to disagree that they are part of the problem. Saying condoms are part of the problem would be like saying food drives worsen world hunger. Condoms do help, they just don't solve the issue.

I agree with the pope. Those who use condoms eventually become to depend on them until they decide just this once that it is much more pleasurable to not wear that plasticy, icky thing. It's kind of like eating a delicious flavorful meal with a plastic rubber on one's tongue. Sexuality between a married man and woman is the only way.

Condoms are a ridiculous ruse! Consider how statistically condoms "fail" 11 to 15% of the time to prevent a pregnancy - even when used very carefully. Consider too how the viral particle of HIV is at least 300 times smaller than a spermatazoa! Common sense alone should expose the absolute stupidity of the statement that a condom is protective (even remotely) for HIV transmission. This is one of the biggest lies perpetrated upon humanity.

What's rediculous is that HIV can be spread even when using condoms. The weave of the condom is not small enough...HIV can still pass through the tiny openings in the condom. THEY DO NOT PROTECT AGAINST AIDS. Listen to the Pope. He's not an idiot.

Edward C. Green, director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, has said that the evidence confirms that the Pope is correct in his assessment that condom distribution exacerbates the problem of AIDS.

"The pope is correct," Green told National Review Online Wednesday, "or put it a better way, the best evidence we have supports the pope's comments."

"There is," Green added, "a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the U.S.-funded 'Demographic Health Surveys,' between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV-infection rates. This may be due in part to a phenomenon known as risk compensation, meaning that when one uses a risk-reduction 'technology' such as condoms, one often loses the benefit (reduction in risk) by 'compensating' or taking greater chances than one would take without the risk-reduction technology." ( see the full interview with Green here: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTNlNDc1MmMwNDM0OTEzMjQ4NDc0ZGUyOWYxNmEzN2E= )

Green's book "Rethinking AIDS Prevention: Learning from Successes in Developing Countries" states "The largely medical solutions funded by major donors have had little impact in Africa, the continent hardest hit by AIDS. Instead, relatively simple, low-cost behavioral change programs--stressing increased monogamy and delayed sexual activity for young people--have made the greatest headway in fighting or preventing the disease's spread."

Firstly, we have two issues here. The Pope is preaching morality as well as safety. His detractors are wanting to prove that immorality doesn't matter and giving false hope that a condom will solve all problems and keep people safe healthwise. The odds are against those using condoms without morality and they are spreading HIV/Aids and other STD's. The answer is NOT condoms it IS morality.

The amount of verifiably false propaganda being proffered as "science" in the comments section to this article is astounding. Contrary to some of the commenters here, this is the actual science:

"Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV infection is, by far, the most deadly STD, and considerably more scientific evidence exists regarding condom effectiveness for prevention of HIV infection than for other STDs. The body of research on the effectiveness of latex condoms in preventing sexual transmission of HIV is both comprehensive and conclusive. The ability of latex condoms to prevent transmission of HIV has been scientifically established in “real-life” studies of sexually active couples as well as in laboratory studies. aboratory studies have demonstrated that latex condoms provide an essentially impermeable barrier to particles the size of HIV."

http://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/latex.htm

The research done by Eric Green of Harvard is about the effect of condom-only programs "at the population level" as is noted in the interview with him elsewhere on CT. This means effectiveness in reducing HIV rates among the whole population. It says nothing about whether condom use in individuals is effective. It is. See the information page from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control I quoted from above. Follow the link and read the actual science. Then open your hearts to actual people, who can't control whether their spouse is monogamous or not, to women who often have little control over their sexuality in desperately poor parts of the world, to children who are often exploited. Condom distribution can save these INDIVIDUAL's lives. Preach to them all you want, although it's really their partners to whom you should be preaching, but in the meantime, save their lives.

The Bible says nothing about contraception (not even in Gen. 38), but it speaks volumes about mercy and compassion.

The easy availability of condoms increases promiscuity.An increase in pomiscuity results in the bigger use of condoms and -its faulty use. This results in an increase in abortion and the spread of AIDS and other diseases.
For details of scientific studies supporting the above statment read the research on the website of Human Life International. Or call them up.
So the Pope is right.
More imporant the use of condoms is a mortal sin. It is a sin against the natural law too.
Catholics believe outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation (Lumen Gentium 14, Ag Gentes 7,Vatican Council II).The Holy Father is the only moral authority.
Pope Benedict XVI was also saying that without abstinence Hell is awaiting hundreds of thousands of people.
He was addressing primarily Catholics.

Dear Tim,

You know my position as a Charter Member of the Internatuinal Bible Society; and as a professional veterinarian; and a Journalist. During this Lenten season the most critical issue is "soul care", "soul work", and "feeding the soul". If people pay more attention to the welfare of the soul, then I think there will be less fuss overs the issue of condoms.

Bill Dogani

Many of the comments on this blog anger me deeply and some of the comments are downright untrue (condoms do not fail 15% of the time unless you are poking holes in them before you use them) and xenophobic (since when does using a condom mean that you have sex with many partners, Mr. Morgan?). I spent two years in an African country with an HIV infection rate of around 25%. I am sick of people who haven't had to look into dying kids' faces getting all morally upset about condom usage and using our Lord Jesus, who spent many of his days hanging out with hookers, to back up their dangerous vitriol. In the country where I served, the greatest risk factor for HIV infection for a woman was getting married. Women were far more likely to get HIV from their only partner, their husband, than from anybody else. So what were they supposed to do? Just hope their husbands were faithful in a culture where that could be a death sentence? Not get married? Leave their husbands and starve to death? HIV is not a curse from God and I am sick of hearing people get self-righteously indignant about the sins of others while puffing themselves up with pride. I have seen children who have been raped and women who have to choose between staying with an unfaithful husband and being homeless. It is a harder world outside America and judgments do not befit those who had the pure dumb luck to be born wealthy and well cared for. I pray to God that I might have half the charity of spirit that some of the people showed me. If I end up polishing their floors in heaven I'll count myself lucky. In the mean time, I'll do everything I can to keep them alive, and yes, that includes encouraging condom usage. May God protect us from ourselves.

The only real solution to AIDS is to bring the Bible back into the schools. Abstinence only programs don't work and can't work because, without a knowledge of God, there is no compelling reason for people to change their behavior.

The Catholic church's dogma is demonically influenced and gives Christianity a bad name.

Jim Serio
http://www.mentalhealthsolutions.info

Interesting assertion that Condoms are part of the problem because they are misused. Does it stand to reason that religion is part of the problem because it is misinterpreted? Or that the faithful are part of the problem because they are human?

I think your comments on condoms and sex and the Pope are largely on target, and represent a nice moderate position which (if I understand you) should be the best approach for all.
One thing has bothered me about the pro-condom group in general:
I once was greatly involved in much free-floating sex activity. And as one in that world, one of the realities seems to be getting lost. Let's compare the idea of the need to scrub well before surgery to prevent transmission of bugs -- in that reality, one scrubs, does not touch, puts on gloves, and does not touch anything which could contaminate the protection. Even then one of the greatest sources of death in the hospital is nosocomial infection - that which is gotten from the hospital itself.
Now in the multi-partner sexual world, when condoms are used -- they are put on the male by hands and or mouths of people who have - up until that point - been touching all parts of the male and/or female body, and delving into all conceivable places, with no regard to contamination. What ever is on that hand or in that mouth is then transferred to the outer surface of the condom. It then is shoved into the orifice of desire - male or female (the number of possible ones is NOT just one) and therefore what ever has been transferred to that outer surface of the condom is now placed inside that person. By the way, in many situations, although there may be every effort to ALWAYS use a condom, those same hands or mouth have perhaps quite recently left the special places of another human being, and what is being put into one person, is even coming from a not-present other person - from who knows where.
Now, if the doctor told me that he was going to wear his sanitary gloves around all day and touch lots of people with them before doing my surgery - I think I would just get up and leave.
I do not understand how people think condoms are going to protect people from STD and AIDS. They can do so ONLY in a perfect world when people are behaving by all the rules, and likely have only ONE present partner between thorough cleansing. If you had such a group of people, the likely need of protection would already be reduced.
I believe it is such a lie to give people a sense of protection and safety JUST by using condoms. It is just not true. People tend to dismiss the claims of "I do not know how this could happen 'cause I use a condom" and say those people are just lying. BUT - in fact - the more frightening reality is that they may be telling the truth, and there is very little protection from the condom as it is used by the common person in the sexually active situation.
This gives me a great deal of concern.
thanks
Bryan

Condoms don't have to be perfect to reduce transmission of STDs. Think of vaccines for an analogy. The more people vaccinated, the less likely the unvaccinated will catch the disease...but occasionally, someone will get unlucky until the disease is entirely eradicated.

But, if people don't want to accept the risks of vaccinations or the inconvenience and expense of getting them...the more unvaccinated people, the more likely they'll catch the disease.

Being against condoms is like being against coats on a cold day. A coat alone might not keep you toasty, you likely need more cold winter gear for that, but it can still save your life with enough protection against exposure...or you might get unlucky if the car stalls and the temperature plummets. Knowledge, preparedness and a coat is going to be more effective than with a coat alone...and you still might run out of luck...but you're much less likely to be unlucky.

The Pope is apparently letting himself be blinded by dubious doctrines relating to seriously obsolete sexology....but he's not alone.

There was once a time when condoms alone likely could have halted the HIV epidemic, but that time has long past. Be careful out there.

Dignity, health and true happiness are the targets. Let´s all listen to the opposite opinions and refrain from making judgments based on our very limited certainty on this subject and find the positive in all approaches if they are truly based on serious concern for human life and true happiness. The church promotes dignity and respect, health and true happiness. She cannot promote condom use generally, and the church does not condemn people when they use them. Often there are practical cases where their use can contribute to dignity and health but this should ideally be rather the exception than the rule. Practically. We need to search our consciences long and deep on this question. Those who are truly committed to the sick and those at risk including the Church are addressing the bigger question of dignity and health in a responsible way. Much of the media and others are acting less responsibly.