(//actingwhite.blogspot.com/2009/03/acting-white-pope-claims-condoms.html -- The Beacon)
By The Beacon Editorial Board
Pope Benedict XVI's recently-published comments about condom use indicate a significant change in tone, not in doctrine, regarding the prevention of the spread of HIV and AIDS.
The pope's comments do not endorse condom use in anyway, far from it. But he does state people who choose to use condoms to prevent the spread of HIV through sexual contact are choosing a lesser evil in the Church's eyes. The choice is by no means approved by the Church, but it's better than giving someone HIV, which is potentially a death sentence.
It is helpful that the pope clarified his comments about condom use to prevent HIV through a Vatican spokesman. The pope had only spoken about condom use in the context of a male prostitute in the new book "The Light of the World." The spokesman clarified that the pope's comments about condom use applied not only to men but also to women and transsexuals.
Although the pope's comments do not affect Catholic Church doctrine, his comments do indicate a more pragmatic view of the dire situation of HIV and AIDS in Africa. This is a definite change, as a little more than a year ago Pope Benedict XVI, on his first trip to Africa as pope, stated that the use of condoms could make the problem of AIDS worse.
The pope's comments indicate a clear shift toward a constructive view, in acknowledging that there is good intention behind the use of condoms: to protect a human life. As AIDS and HIV have reached epidemic proportions in Africa, it is heartening that the pope is changing his tone on this matter.
Despite this change in tone, the Catholic Church still promotes abstinence for reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa.
Pope Benedict's comments have certainly caused confusion and controversy in the Catholic community. Overall his comments are a positive change from condemnation of condom use to a polite acknowledgement that the use of condoms to prevent HIV has a degree of moral intent, even if they are not the ideal solution.
