Vatican considers allowing use of condoms in fight against Aids

Financial Times
Vatican considers allowing use of condoms in fight against Aids
By Tony Barber in Rome
Published: April 27 2006 03:00 | Last updated: April 27 2006 03:00

Vatican theologians and health experts are studying whether to relax the Roman Catholic Church's long-standing opposition to the use of condoms as a way of fighting Aids, church officials said yesterday.

They said the conclusions would be forwarded to Pope Benedict XVI, who had requested the study. He would have the final word on whether to endorse what would be a notable change in the church's ethical approach to modern sexual behaviour.

Throughout the 1978-2005 reign of John Paul II, the Vatican voiced strong disapproval of all forms of contraception except "natural family planning", or periodic abstinence from sex. However, the Vatican did not explicitly instruct Catholics never to use condoms in circumstances involving Aids.

The church's religious institutions and lay associations are heavily involved in combating the global spread of Aids, estimated to affect more than 40m people, of whom 2.3m are under 15.

The issue came to the fore last week when Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, former archbishop of Milan, argued that condoms could be considered a "lesser evil" if used by married couples when a partner had the HIV virus.

Cardinal Martini, 79, was not the first high-ranking prelate to speak in support of condom use, albeit under strictly defined conditions. But his remarks attracted attention because he is popular with progressive Catholics, and was once considered a potential candidate for the papacy.

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, 73, the Vatican's top official for healthcare issues since 1996, cautioned against expectations of a rapid change in policy.


バチカンがコンドーム使用で方針転換？　ＨＩＶ感染防止で