Cardinal and UN clash over condoms

Catholic New Times, Nov 2, 2003

ROME -- The Cardinal in charge of Vatican social policy has called for condoms to carry "health warnings," arguing that they were not effective against the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, head of the Pontifical Council for the Family, said that to treat condoms as reliable was like "playing Russian roulette." He argued that they were not foolproof against pregnancy, nor were they necessarily impermeable to the Aids virus, which was 450 times smaller than a single sperm.

"I propose that the Ministry of Health require the inclusion in condom packages and advertisements and in the apparatus or shelves where they are displayed a warning that the condom is not safe," Cardinal Trujillo said.

His comments followed a BBC documentary "Sex and the Holy City," in which he said the Catholic Church "advises against people infected with HIV wearing contraceptives."

Belgian Cardinal Godfried Daneels immediately distanced himself from Trujillo's remarks, deploring his confrere's remark. "He has ventured into areas he shouldn't have. It does not befit a Cardinal to deal with the virtue of a product."

On October 13, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of the UN's Family Planning Office rejected Trujillo's comments saying, "This position is not scientifically accurate, and could contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS."

"The fact is that when condoms are properly used, in conjunction with programmes encouraging abstinence and fidelity to one partner, they provide effective protection against HIV/AIDS transmission," said Ms. Obaid. "This position is shared by our partners and the international community. It is endorsed by international meetings, including the recent Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on HIV/AIDS."