Madam, - After the death of Pope John Paul II, many journalists were critical of his teachings on what John Waters called their "trinity" - of divorce, contraception and homosexuality. Many of them were hoping that the consistory would elect a progressive pope who would change all that. I am sure they have been and will be disappointed. I touch on one of this "trinity" - contraception.
It has been claimed that the church's policy has led to a very large number of deaths, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The reality is very different.
Cardinal Napier, Archbishop of Durban, South Africa was interviewed on RTÉ Radio 1 before the consistory. He said that in most of the countries of the sub-continent where the use of condoms in the fight against HIV is official policy, HIV infection was increasing. In contrast the situation in Uganda where behaviour change - abstinence or a stable relationship with one partner not infected with HIV is official policy - the prevalence of infection was decreasing. He went on to say that the promotion of condom use for "safe sex" increased promiscuity, which contributed largely to the Aids pandemic.
These findings are also shown in a wide-ranging review of the scientific literature in the journal Studies in Family Planning (March 2004) on condom use. Kenya's Minister for Health has praised the Church for its focus in three key areas: prevention through awareness-raising and promotion of behaviour change; care and treatment of the people living with HIV/Aids; and social and economic support for those infected and affected by the scourge. Thankfully, anti-retroviral treatment now offers HIV sufferers some hope.
A group of experts on HIV in an article in the British Medical Journal (April 10th, 2004) stressed the need for greater emphasis in changing sexual behaviour. It seems obvious, they said, that there would be no global Aids pandemic were it not for multiple sexual partnerships.
An article by Dr P.B. Marwood published in the British Journal of Hospital Medicine (Vol. 37, 1987), entitled "Aids: a conspiracy of misinformation", states that: "Church leaders proclaim abstinence as the only real protection. I fear that they are correct. It would seem that virginity and faithfulness will again become fashionable."
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, are increasing rapidly in Ireland. We urge the Government to end its support at home, and abroad, for the discredited and dangerous policy of promoting condoms as the primary means of fighting STIs and Aids. What is needed instead, in sub-Saharan Africa in particular, is medical and financial aid and fair trade to overcome the appalling poverty there; our Government should do much more in this regard. We feel that the taxpayers would support them in this. - Yours, etc,
IVO O'SULLIVAN, Chair, Family and Media Association, Blackrock, Co Dublin.