Condoms can be okay

Catholic moral theology has always accepted the use of condoms provided their primary purpose is not contraception, says Fr Bill Uren, Rector of the Jesuit Theologian College in Melbourne, adding that appreciation of moral complexity is a sign of an adult faith.

Fr Uren, who is a former President of the Catholic Moral Theologians' Society of Australia and New Zealand, made his comments following the call by South African Bishop Kevin Dowling in The Australian to the Pope that official Vatican policy on condom use be changed.

"Moral theology has never condemned the use of condoms outright," Fr Uren told Online Catholics yesterday. "We speak of the moral principle of 'double effect'. The textbook example is where a woman might wish to compete in an athletics competition it would be acceptable to use contraception to delay menstruation. Because the primary purpose is not the avoidance of pregnancy the use of contraception is permissable.

"In cases where the primary purpose of condoms is to save lives, or to prevent the spread of disease, the principle of 'double effect' applies," Fr Uren said. Fr Uren cited a recent (2000) book Catholic Ethicists on HIV/AIDS Prevention, by James Keenan sj and Jon Fuller MD sj, which illustrates a range of well argued Catholic moral positions on this subject.

Increasing numbers of Catholic bishops and theologians are asserting this view publicly. Last September the UK Catholic agency CAFOD announced it would support the use of condoms in situations where life was threatened as part of a total strategy.

Cardinal Godfried Daneels of Belgium, a serious contender for the papacy in the recent election, caused ripples in the Church last year when he hinted that using a condom might not be sinful. This followed the attempts by Cardinal Alphonse Lopez-Trujillo on BBC Television to show that condoms could actually facilitate the spread of the AIDS virus. Daneels' position was later supported by bishops in a number of countries including Spain and Mexico.

Asked why there appears to be an inconsistency in traditional moral theology and Vatican pronouncements on condoms, Fr Uren said he thought there were Vatican concerns that anything other than a simple, consistent argument could be misconstrued by the faithful. However he was of the view that some in the hierarchy were perhaps underestimating the faithful." A more enlightened view of morality understands that all moral questions contain complexity," Fr Uren said. An adult faith appreciates nuance and ambiguity without denying essential truth, he believes.

Others say that the much trumpeted Catholic 'culture of life' include those at risk of AIDS due to the over-simple moral fiats issued by Rome.

The Melbourne-based Catholic AIDS agency - The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated - has publicly echoed Bishop Dowling's plea for action on condoms, saying that the 'crucifying experiences' of those with AIDS was a cry that must be heeded.

"Australian AIDS Fund endorses Bishop Dowling's call for meaningful AIDS talks at papal level", Brian Haill said. "No caring Catholic, let alone concerned agencies, could do otherwise."

Theologian Michael B. Kelly believes that far from being moral, it is in fact immoral not to positively encourage the use of condoms in certain circumstances. "The party line is fracturing," Kelly says, "because many Catholics are reaching the point at which they can no longer in conscience fight for a so-called moral principle when people are dying. How many Africans, Asians, women and gay people must contract AIDS before professional celibates give their permission for such people to protect themselves?"

Kelly supports Brian Haill's call for the Jesuit CEO of Church Resources, Michael Kelly, to step down from Tony Abbott's ministerial advisory committee on AIDS, due to his adherence to the official prohibition on the use of condoms in any circumstances. The Health Advisory Committee believes the use of condoms is a central plank in HIV prevention.

"How dare Fr Michael Kelly support this morally bankrupt position when authorities like Cardinal Daneels and Bill Uren do not?" Mr Kelly said.

"Just how many people need to die before traditional Catholic moral teaching is permitted to reassert itself?"

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