The Church Conundrum on Condoms bow!

Condoms are barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability pregnancy and spreading of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. It's 90 percent effective in preventing HIV transmission.

It's been ages when some catholic health workers  have argued  about the importance of using condoms particularly to those married HIV-infected patients.  But sad to say,  the Church  has  its official stance and strongly   upholds their belief  on moral grounds about contraception which includes condoms.

Surprisingly, the Pope's advocates may somehow have enlightened the  issue. In an extended book interview, he was asked about his opinion on preventing the spread of AIDS in Africa and made a controversial remark. Pope Benedict XVI said "There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants."

In the country like Philippines, Majority of the population are Catholics. The Church  strongly condemns  contraception.  They  continue to promote the natural way of family planning despite having  a population of 94 million people and majority of these people are living below the poverty line. Not to mention the increasing number of AIDS cases. There are estimated 1,305 people affected with AIDS from January to October 2010 and  total cases of 5,729 since 1984.  These are reported cases in the Philippines alone , how much more in other countries. The probability of  AIDS cases to shoot up is apparent without  proper dissemination of  health education and preventive measures.

May the Pope's viewpoint  serves as an indication for the Church to look at the brighter side of using condoms. Who knows, maybe time will come that the Church will realize that  it's not just AIDS that can be prevented  through condoms. But consider it, as one of the most effective ways of family planning.