Condoning condoms

Yet, even if we rapidly scale up treatment, expert modelling tells that it will never keep pace, unless we can prevent infections in the first place. So we not only need better and more accessible testing, counselling and treatment, we need much greater access to prevention services as well.

And as preventive measures I support the approaches of delaying the onset of sexual activity and mutual fidelity, but please don’t leave out options, such as male and female condoms, and microbicides when they come, that can help to stem the epidemic and save, over time, so many lives.

There is no doubt that we have real divergences of views towards condom use but there may be some changes in the Catholic Church’s stand. As reported recently in the International Herald Tribune, Kevin Dowling, the Archbishop of Rustenburg, is reported to advocate the use of condoms in dire situations, as in his very poor diocese in South Africa, where one in two adults are already infected. The Tribune also reports a greater interest by some of the senior clergy in discussing condoms. And Pope Benedict XVI has preached about openness and reconciliation in his first papal mass.

Let common and compassionate sense prevail.