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Vatican rushes to defend Pope's condom claim
Ed Harris19 Mar 2009
The Vatican has been forced to defend Pope Benedict XVI's opposition to condoms as a means for stopping the spread of Aids.
Scientists and politicians - including those from his native Germany - criticised the Pope's claims that they only "increase the problem" as being unrealistic and dangerous.
Benedict XVI made his comments to reporters aboard his plane, as he flew into Africa on Tuesday. Quentin Sattentau, Professor of Immunology at Oxford University, said: "This [remark] is entirely counterproductive, and is likely to lead to increases in HIV infection in Africa and elsewhere.
"There is a large body of published evidence demonstrating that condom use reduces the risk of acquiring HIV infection, but does not lead to increased sexual activity."
But Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said that the Pope was "maintaining the position of his predecessors". The Church teaches that fidelity or abstinence are the best ways to stop the spread of Aids and that the use of condoms encourages promiscuity.
Health and development ministers in Germany said: "Modern development co-operation must give access to the means for family planning to the poorest of the poor. And the use of condoms is especially part of that."
Kevin De Cock, director of the World Health Organisation's HIV/Aids department, said there is no scientific evidence showing that condom use spurs people to take more sexual risks. He said: "The guidance we give is that condoms are highly effective to prevent the transmission of HIV if they are used correctly and consistently."
And Hans-Jochen Jaschke, Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of Hamburg, said: "Anyone who has Aids and is sexually active, anyone who seeks multiple partners, must protect others and themselves.
"So, no taboo on condoms, but also no myths and trivialisation as if these put the world in order. Condoms can protect but men often reject them."
