[afro-nets] Catholic Church fails to recognize the importance of condom use in the prevention of HIV and AIDS

["Bradford McIntyre" <bradford@positivelypositive.ca>]

Catholic Church fails to recognize the importance of condom use in the prevention of HIV and AIDS

June 27, 2007

The Catholic Information Service For Africa has posted an article titled
KENYA: Catholics Reaffirm Stand Against Condoms in fighting HIV/AIDS
http://www.cisanewsafrica.org/story.asp?ID=2330

It is unimaginable, with HIV infections numbering over 40 million people and 25 million deaths that the Catholic Church would fail to recognize the importance of condom use in the prevention of HIV and AIDS and continue to obstruct HIV/AIDS preventions methods with a stand which does not promote condom use and does not allow Catholics infected with HIV to use condoms. 

While I appreciate the Catholic Church is trying to follow tradition, the world is under siege by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Villages, towns, cities and countries around the world are seeing HIV infections climbing; while the Catholic Church stands idly by allowing more and more infections to occur because of outdated ideas that are not suitable for the times. And what is needed! 

As leader of the Catholic Church, the Pope has a moral duty and obligation to ensure followers are educated and lives are saved from HIV infections and AIDS deaths!  Around the world, condoms are seen as a necessary requirement for engaging in sexual activity. Promoting condom use has not and does not promote promiscuity. Condoms prevent HIV infection and save lives.

The Catholic Church is promoting practices of abstinence and fidelity, which are widely known to have a high failure rate and allow more HIV infections!

Individuals are often infected with HIV because they have not received the necessary information on the importance of and how to use a condom and do not use a condom when engaging in sex.

Millions and millions of people, organizations, and governments around the world are working diligently to help prevent the spread of HIV infections and AIDS. It is past time the Catholic Church recognizes change is needed and that support of condom use is essential to combat the ever increasing number of HIV infections.

To due otherwise is to turn a blind eye! This stand also gives more and more people good reason to leave the church because they can not abide by old outdated traditions that people can not, will not, follow today. A grave disservice has occurred due to the Catholic Church's policies on condom use.

The evidence has already been made clear; condom use is a necessary means for curbing HIV infections. 

Bradford McIntyre, HIV+ since 1984
Vancouver, Canada
mailto:bradford@positivelypositive.ca