Responding to the massive suffering and death from AIDS in Africa, a bold, even revolutionary, measure is being considered by a group of Roman Catholic bishops: condom use. The Southern African Catholic Bishop’s Conference, opening July 24, will debate allowing condom use as part of a comprehensive program to stop the spread of HIV. The bishops from South Africa, Botswana, and Swaziland oversee three of the world’s most HIV-infected nations – 20% to 30% of their entire adult populations. Ultimately, their deliberations will have impact beyond their own borders into broader Africa, where more than 25 million people are HIV-infected, almost entirely through heterosexual sex.
The pope is firm about the church’s ban on contraception, including condoms, viewing sex solely as a reproductive act. However, most non-Catholics (and even many Catholics) see human sexuality as having multiple dimensions, not just making babies. Given the scope of the AIDS epidemic, they ask, shouldn’t human suffering and already existing life take precedence? No, abstinence is the answer, not condoms, the Roman church replies. Like Marie Antoinette’s suggestion about cake, the admonition has little practicality to offer for stopping the devastation of AIDS.
The bishops’ approach will examine “the possibility that a prevention strategy can be seen in relation to Catholic moral tradition.” Such a more expansive perspective would be welcome, as the Vatican has been accused of hindering the fight against AIDS since the beginning. The bishops’ proposal would have little impact without Vatican approval, but at least the issue is receiving debate in an arena that the Roman Catholic Church must take seriously.
This article appears in July 20 • 2001.