Society

Behaviour, not condoms will stop AIDS, says Philippines Church

By: Karen Joy Pascual, Christian Post
Posted:
Sunday, 31 August 2008, 23:51 (MYT)
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MANILA - The Roman Catholic Church is telling the people that their behaviours play an essential role - not condoms - to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) backs the claims about permeable condoms, despite assurances by the Department of Health (DOH) saying condom use is one of the most effective way of stopping the spread of the AIDS causing HIV virus.

DOH said condom use is needed to further lower the 0.1 percent HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country, adding that condoms are 95 percent effective in preventing the disease.

In response, CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro said, “They are wrong about that...this is an easily recognizable fact.”

Castro cited the case in African countries and Thailand where AIDS is prevalent than ever even if they’ve been promoting the use of condoms.

“The authorities are giving the people false assurances that using condoms for safe sex. There can never be safe sex,” the priest said.

He called on the government to stop promoting “false security” to the people that condom will solve the problem on the deadly virus.

Castro said the Church stands by its teaching that the best way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS is abstinence and not condom use.

The Church’s official comment came in response to a remark by DOH officials that it was time for the churches and religious organisations faced reality and lifted the ban on condom use to help end HIV/AIDS.

He underscored that the primary way to combat AIDS is through behavioural change and monogamous partnerships between men and women.

“We must encourage them to live morally upright lives, and to practice marital fidelity and chastity within and outside marriage, instead of telling them that risky sexual behaviour is acceptable, provided they wear a condom to protect them and their partners from HIV/AIDS,” he added.

“That’s why what we are campaigning to people is about fidelity to their partners, and of course, abstention from sexual intimacy,” Castro said.

CBCP's statement arrived amidst the Church’s strong opposition in the passage of the reproductive health bill, which basically promotes the use of artificial forms of contraceptives, including condoms.

The Church opposes any kind of contraception because it claims it breaks the link between sex and procreation - a position the Vatican has fought to defend.

However, these views do not come down well with the DOH officials, who see using condom for family planning and to prevent HIV/AIDS as two different matters and should not be taken generally.

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