Spanish church backs condom use to battle Aids

In a dramatic shift from traditional policy, the Catholic Church in Spain has said it supports the use of condoms to prevent the spread of Aids.

“Condoms have a place in the global prevention of Aids,” Juan Antonio Martinez Campos, spokesman for the Spanish Bishops Conference, said after a meeting with Health Minister Elena Salgado to discuss ways of fighting the disease.

The Catholic Church has repeatedly rebuffed campaigns for it to endorse the use of condoms in the fight against Aids. The Vatican states that condoms, being a form of artificial birth control, cannot be used to help prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that causes Aids.

Martinez Campos said the church’s stance was backed by the scientific world. He cited a recent study by experts in the medical magazine Lancet which supported the so-called ABC approach of abstinence, being faithful to partners and using condoms.

“The Church is very worried and interested by this problem,” he said.