Like It Is

The Times Online reported today that Pope Benedict XVI is considering “concessions” over the use of condoms to fight Aids.

Before we get all hopeful that this means that perhaps the millions of Catholics are going to reduce their rate of breeding, or that at last the Catholic church has at last stopped to listen to anyone other than the Catholic church, you might want to hold your horses. Crush that flicker of hope. The Vatican intends to keep perfectly intact the overall ban on condoms, the use of which is, of course, considered a sin even if you are married. Because condoms are a from of contraception. And contraception is banned. According the the Times report, medical and theological experts advising Pope Benedict have suggested that:

“married couples could be allowed to use condoms when one of the spouses is HIV positive or a drug user”

A chink in the armour? Or a false dawn?

Despite the fact that the death toll from Aids in Africa rises relentlessly almost daily, there is no question of the Vatican reversing the basic church doctrine laid down in Humanae Vitae the 1968 encyclical encyclical in which Pope Paul VI rejected any relaxation of church rules on birth control. The policy was reiterated by Pope John Paul II and by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was then his head of doctrine and who is now the Pope.

According the the annual UN report on AIDS released ahead of World Aids day on December 1, there are almost 40 million people living with HIV. The most alarming increase was in Uganda which experienced a rise of 5.6% in infection among men and a 6.9% infection rate among women in 2000 to 6.5% and 8.8% respectively. Meanwhile, in a speech to African bishops last year Pope Benedict blamed contraception for breakdown in sexual morality and said that abstinence and marriage fidelity were the most effective way to prevent the spread of HIV.

Hello? Earth to far-away Pope on far-away planet…
I shake my head in both anger and disbelief. I wonder how it is that the Pope can not only keep up his head-in-the-sand approach to the continued spread of HIV and Aids and at the same time say he cares about people. Keeping church doctrine, not relaxing the rules, and keeping people under control (which is the main purpose of much church doctrine) is more important to the Vatican than doing something that could save millions from dying. And of course pontificating and blaming contraception. I wonder how those living with HIV feel about that.

There are some Catholic liberals advocating for a change. They are saying that condoms could be used in situations

“where there is widespread misery, promiscuity or use of drugs…”

Who decides what “widespread misery” is? I wonder.

I suppose they have to start somewhere and tread gently faced with an uncompromisingly implacable church stance. And even if this is viewed as part of the opening of a “chink” in the armour, it is clear that only married couples would be “allowed” to use condoms. For everyone else they are banned.

The liberal voices are a minority in the conservative Vatican church. So I wouldn’t be holding my breath and expect change anytime soon. Meanwhile, plenty more people will continue to be infected and die while the Vatican continues to stick to its church doctrine.
What strikes me is that Catholic church adherents suffering from HIV/AIDS would probably have a better chance at life outside the confines of the Catholic church.