Bishops urged to support calls
for use of condoms
AN appeal has been made to PNG’s bishops, staging their
annual conference this week in Simbu, to support the call by one
of the Roman Catholic church’s most distinguished cardinals,
Carlo Martini, for limited use of condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS
infection.
In an open letter to the bishops, an Australian-based Catholic
charity “implores” them to take heed of the call last
week by Cardinal Martini’s for married people with HIV-infected
partners to use condoms to protect themselves against AIDS.
The Vatican has not said anything about Cardinal Martini’s
comments but Reuters news agency yesterday said it was preparing
to make a statement on condom use.
The Australian AIDS Fund is a Melbourne-based charity.
The fund said as a “close runner-up in last year’s
papal election”, Cardinal Martini’s stance “ought
not be dismissed”.
“This may be the last chance the Catholic church has to
finally recognise that condoms prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS
and that millions of women in marriage are at great risk from
their infected partners.”
The Fund also called on the Catholic aid agency, Caritas, to make
an “immediate and significant financial response to help
meet the critical needs of people living with AIDS in NCD.
The overwhelming number of HIV infections, almost 70%, is occurring
in Port Moresby, the fund says.“Globally HIV infects five
million people each year and AIDS kills three million a year,
and that calls for urgency.”
The Australian AIDS Fund said it applauded the cardinals who spoke
in favour of condoms.
“Given the frightful HIV plight of PNG, we urge you bishops
to follow Cardinal Martini’s example,” the letter
said.
|
