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IAS: Pope’s remarks on condoms dangerous and irresponsible

20 March 2009 (Geneva, Switzerland) - Pope Benedict XVI ‘s comments on the role that condoms play in preventing the further spread of HIV are irresponsible and dangerous, says Julio Montaner, President of the International AIDS Society (IAS).

On March 17, 2009, while traveling to Cameroon, the Pope addressed the media, calling AIDS “a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem”. This is the first time that Pope Benedict has directly spoken out against the use of condoms. While the historic stance of the Roman Catholic Church against contraception use is widely known, Benedict’s predecessor John Paul II never spoke out publicly against the use of condoms to prevent HIV infection.

“There is not a shred of evidence to suggest that condoms can increase HIV transmission – absolutely the contrary,” said Dr. Montaner. “Male and female condoms, used correctly and consistently, can reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV by 80-90 percent.”

IAS Executive Director Craig McClure further condemned the Pope’s remarks. “This is the first trip to Africa by Pope Benedict, a continent that has been ravaged by AIDS. As of 2006, according to the Vatican, over 17% of the total African population practices Catholicism. The numbers are growing each year. Catholics throughout Africa rely on the spiritual guidance of the Pope. To suggest that condom use contributes to the HIV problem is not merely contrary to scientific evidence and global consensus, it contributes to fueling HIV infection and its consequences - sickness and death. Such outrageous comments are not appropriate coming from the highest office in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.”

Dr. Montaner added, “While condoms are not the only solution to combating HIV, they are a critical, cheap and cost-effective element of a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention. Instead of spreading ignorance, the Pope should use his global position of leadership to encourage young people, who are our future, to protect themselves and others from HIV infection using all the tools we have at our disposal, including condoms. His remarks are insulting to the tireless efforts of committed scientific, public health and human rights leaders around the world to protect the poorest of the poor from HIV infection.”

The IAS is the world’s leading association of HIV professionals, with more than 13,000 members from 188 countries working at all levels of the global response to HIV/AIDS. IAS members represent scientists, clinicians, public health and community practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic. The IAS is the lead organizer of the biennial International AIDS Conference and the IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, which will be held in Cape Town, South Africa in July 2009.

For more information, contact:

Karen Bennett (Geneva, Switzerland)
IAS Senior Communications Manager
Email:
Tel: +41 22 710 0832


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Posted: 15 November 2010
By:  David  Adong,  ,  Uganda
Comment:
I recond the POPE's statement on condom use. We seem not to have understood the Pope's submission that is why we are paying back with a critigue. Its ireputable that condom use has increased immorality. It calls for a moment of silence that in the world over, young and old have died of HIV/AIDS because of what we call a condom. A person who would have abstained from a sexual intercourse rashes to have it because of a condom and consequently because of rough sex, jellys, or any way the condom busts and he contructs the disease. He is looking at the Ideal situation being Astainance and faithfulness. Condom use is like setting atrap for some one to either trap or escape narrowly.
Posted: 20 April 2009
By:  Christiana C   Sutton-Koroma SK,  WWW Campaign,  Sierra Leone
Comment:
My own opinion as a Religious Leader and and Activist on Women's Rights and HIV/AIDS is that the Pope needs to do more research on the issue of sexually transmitted diseases before making any pronoucement as such. Because he is also helping to open his large congregation to risk. Your message of abstainance cannot be heard by all, especially those who will find themselves in the present situation of vulnerable groups whose rights always violet and have no control over their God given bodies are supposed to be cherished by they the men that God had given to us.
Posted: 03 April 2009
By:  Filippo (F)  Ciantia,  AVSI,  Uganda
Comment:
I consider the statements Pope Benedict XVI made on the AIDS scourge at the press conference granted to journalists during the papal flight en route to Yaoundé, Cameroon, realistic, reasonable and scientifically sound. As Benedict XVI affirmed, there is evidence in Uganda and in most African countries that “the most efficient reality, the most present at the front of the struggle against AIDS, is precisely the Catholic Church, with her movements, with her various organizations”. There is no need of documenting the extraordinary contribution of Sr Miriam Duggan, Nsambya hospital, Kitovu hospital, Youth Alive, Meeting Point groups, Lacor hospital, Reach Out Mbuya, and many other realities of the Catholic Church to the successful response Uganda made to the epidemic. It is equally true that as the Pope reiterated “this problem of AIDS can't be overcome only with publicity slogans”. Uganda with the leadership of President Museveni and the brave participation of the people at all levels including religious and cultural leaders, did not indulge in asking for help. Ugandans acted with a clear and determined strategy based on abstinence (delay of sexual debut) and fidelity (zero grazing). Moreover it is not even a matter of level of funding: in the crucial years when prevalence declined from 15% in 1992 to 6% in 2004, the Uganda AIDS Control Programme cost was 23 cents of dollar per person. Indeed the “the scourge (of AIDS) can't be resolved with the distribution of condoms: on the contrary, there is a risk of increasing the problem.” My experience demonstrates that the Church’s position on condom and AIDS is the most reasonable and scientifically sound for the prevention of AIDS epidemics. Uganda has a record of success in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Some went to the extent of labelling the Ugandan experience as “social vaccine”. The comprehensive approach to prevention that would later be defined “ABC”, though initially a truly indigenous and locally developed response to the pandemic has become an inclusive evidence-based approach to prevent sexual transmission of HIV. For many years I have been part of the struggle against the disease, and I acknowledge that the Church and religion at large have had a strong impact in slowing down the spread of the epidemic, through a work of education of the youth and of the population to a responsible use of their sexuality. I know how important condoms can be in focal epidemics among high-risk-groups; there is limited or no direct evidence, however, that the common and popular prevention measures (including condom social marketing, VCT, syndromic or mass treatment of STIs) have contributed to the reduction or slowing down of HIV in generalised epidemics. I caution against an interpretation of Catholic religion and of the Pope’s teaching as prejudicially against science, because this is simply against evidence.
Posted: 02 April 2009
By:  Margaret   Wardrop,  ,  Australia
Comment:
The pope's views reinforce why I questioned my religion and subsequently left the church. I think it sinful what he is promoting. And what of the childrn conceived???
Posted: 01 April 2009
By:  Giancarlo  Orofino,  ,  Italy
Comment:
In my opinion the Pope is free to declare his opinions, like every man. People must read all the interview. Also UNAIDS declare that "an HIV prevention approach based solely on one element does not work and can hinder the AIDS response" (see www.unaids.org)
Posted: 01 April 2009
By:  Zelalem  Adugna,  ,  Ethiopia
Comment:
I am so surprised by the Pope's Remark. I do not belong to any religious denominations. I do not know why this Catholic religion never learns from its mistakes for hundreds of years. Galilio was to be killed by this church while he discovered that our planet is a spherical. Now we all know and the church also knows that our plant is spherical. Why does not the church still believe that our earth is flat? Why? Because no one will lesson to them. And now this Pop talks non-sense. There might be some who will lesson to him. I am not a lawyer but governments should do something about this craziness. This religion has opposed major scientific discoveries and it is still resisting science. With regards to this particular remark of the Pope, I think African leaders and African professionals should do something. Why do African leaders keep quite when this ignorant man is killing millions of people? How can this be different from the Darfur crisis and Rwanda genocide? This man should in the future be accused to the ICC (International Criminal Court) for such intentional misguidance of the public because of his position when I do believe he actually knows that condom prevents HIV. I do believe that he knows condom reduces infection by HIV, because he has gone to school in Europe and he is intentionally killing millions of uneducated youth and people in Africa. We really want to ask ourselves, the public and pope himself about his real intention. This for me is crime. That is also when we should question democracy. If we will allow everyone to express his or her idea, ignorant people like this man will use their position and lead the public to a wrong direction. It that case we might need to protect dictators who will protect their country from evil and ignorant person like this man.
 
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