Pope Benedict XVI said condom use can be justified when used to help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. While his statement is very specific, and does not go nearly far enough in addressing the condom issue, it is an unprecedented first step in opening a constructive dialogue.
Peter Seewald, a German journalist, compiled his interviews with the pope in his book, “Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times,” released on Nov. 23. In the interview, the pope said some individuals, male prostitutes for example, should wear a condom to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. This can be a first step in morality, a first assumption of responsibility.
So, the pope is not saying condom use can be justified for contraceptive purposes, homosexuality, or prostitution. In fact, condoms are still not justifiable, even to protect against HIV/AIDS, if they act as a contraceptive.
The church believes condoms are not a real or moral solution to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. They are merely a lesser evil. That is to say, if you are already participating in the evil of spreading HIV/AIDS through homosexual relations with a male prostitute, the act is slightly less evil if you use a condom and don’t spread HIV/AIDS.
A statement along these lines has been long in coming. According to the World Health Organization, there are 33.3 million living with HIV, 2.6 million of those being newly infected and 1.8 million deaths in 2009. The lack of such a statement showed the huge gap between the ideals of the Vatican and the issues that face a large portion of the Catholic congregation on a day-to-day basis.
The pope’s statement, however, does not go far enough. What about married couples who have AIDS, however it was contracted? We are still telling those married couples that they cannot use condoms. We are telling them that they either must abstain or risk contracting HIV/AIDS and passing it on to the children they have.
We should, however, applaud the church for being more open towards a rather controversial issue, even though it is deemed “a lesser evil.” They are encouraging dialogue, which is the most important thing.
Never before has the subject even been up for discussion. Condoms were forbidden, without exception, but a distinction has been made. Condoms are used for more than just birth control; they are used as disease control, too.