Papal statement - Shifting view on condoms

A spokesman for the United Nations AIDS agency has welcomed a statement by Pope Benedict XVI in relation to the use of condoms.

While they are not a moral solution in stopping AIDS, the Pontiff explained that in some instances, such as male prostitution, the use of condoms could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility “in the intention of reducing the risk of infection”.

The comments, made in the course of an interview with a German journalist, have been published as part of a book entitled, Light of the World: The Pope.

According to the English publisher of the book, the Pope was not justifying the use of condoms for contraception. That is a wholly different debate.

The Church’s position is still that abstinence and marital fidelity is the only sure way of preventing HIV. He went on to note, however, that using condoms to protect others from the disease could be an awakening of moral responsibility.

In countries like the USA, condoms sold publicly in vending machines have usually stressed that they were for the prevention of disease only.