With over 33 million global cases, the AIDS virus claims thousands of lives each day. In response, the Vatican will host an international conference in May of 2011 regarding the prevention of AIDS and how one can care for individuals suffering from the disease. Even the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers said, according to WashingtonPost.com, that they were devising a set of guidelines for Catholic doctors and other medical practitioners when treating patients diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. The Vatican’s recent and enthusiastic response to this worldwide epidemic follows a controversial statement made by Pope Benedict XVI last year. Benedict revealed in an interview for his latest book, Light of the World, that someone using a condom to prevent the spread of HIV showed “moral sexuality” because the male would be concerned with another’s personal welfare.
The Pope’s statement initiated an immediate outbreak of confusion, particularly among Catholic followers and critics. The question arose as to whether condoms, which the church doctrine openly opposes, were now permissible while engaging in sexual intercourse. However, the Vatican denied that a justification for condoms had been made. They assert their position that abstinence and monogamous marriages best prevent the transmission and spread of HIV.
Given that 54 percent of infected Africans (roughly 12.1 million people) are women, reports the Associated Press, the Catholic Church has unsurprisingly faced extreme criticism regarding their opposition towards contraception and using condoms as a form of birth control. The comments made by Benedict have sparked so much debate that the Vatican must clarify their position towards contraceptives, which was determined at the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith held on December 21. Monsignor Jean-Marie Mpendawatu Mate Musivi, the undersecretary of the Vatican health office, told reporters that the Vatican’s official position would be available at the May 28 conference. The head of UNAIDS was invited to the conference, but has yet to accept the request.
The Vatican maintains its stance that condoms should not be considered acceptable to prevent pregnancy. According to the Associated Press, Musivi stresses that “there is a problem of comprehension, of explaining things well, and what the Pope really said. The church has to let this mature,” Musivi continues. “It must digest and reflect on this.”
