Conscientious Marketing and PR Blog

During the in-flight newser to Cameroon for his first African trip, pope Benedict XVI responded to six questions, one regarding the urgent issue of AIDS in Africa.

“One cannot overcome the problem with the distribution of condoms.

On the contrary, they increase the problem,”

Benedict XV, 2009

The Pope argued that distribution of condoms aggravated the problem, rather than helping to contain the virus. The Vatican is currently working hard at damage-limitation following Pope Benedict’s claim that condoms can make the problem of Aids worse. The pope’s comments were recorded by reporters, and the recording has the pope saying that the distribution of condoms “even aggravates the problems”.

The first half of the pope’s statement is clearly right. Condoms alone won’t stop the spread of H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS. Campaigns to reduce the number of sexual partners, safer-sex practices and other programs are needed to bring the disease to heel. But the second half of his statement is grievously wrong. There is no evidence that condom use is aggravating the epidemic and considerable evidence that condoms, though no panacea, can be helpful in many circumstances. The continent of Africa is home to two thirds of all people living with HIV/AIDS and buries a third of all AIDS victims each year.

About a dozen Facebook groups have sprang up, mostly from European countries, criticizing the pontiff. A Facebook campaign (with multiple groups) is now raging in response to what the  Pope said. “Condoms for the Pope” or “Send the Pope Condoms” are two of them. Thousands have pledged to send the Vatican millions of condoms to protest the pope’s controversial comment. The pope and the Catholic church is old fashion, should they change their view and make it more up to date?