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 Pell backs Pope in saying condoms worsen AIDS spread
THE Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, made use of one of the holiest days in the Christian calender yesterday to support the Pope's controversial claim that condoms worsen the spread of HIV and AIDS.
The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney said on morning television yesterday that condoms "encourage promiscuity" and were not the solution to the AIDS epidemic.
"The idea that you can solve a great spiritual and health crisis like AIDS with a few mechanical contraptions like condoms is ridiculous," he said on Sky News.
The cardinal said the different rates of AIDS in Catholic and non-Catholic countries in Asia showed why spirituality, not condoms, was needed.
"If you look at the Philippines you'll see the incidence of AIDS is much lower than it is in Thailand, which is awash with condoms. There are condoms everywhere and the rate of infection is enormous."
Pope Benedict XVI ignited furious reaction from AIDS organisations and received swift censure from European politicians when he made similar comments during a visit to Africa in March.
The president of the AIDS Council of NSW, Marc Orr, said the cardinal's comments contradicted all evidence that condoms reduced the transmission of HIV.
"For a person of Cardinal Pell's stature to come out and say condoms don't work, that they're not the answer, that has to be seen as irresponsible when we know the facts. No one ever said [condoms] are the whole solution but they are a part of stopping transmission."
Neither the federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, nor the NSW Health Minister, John Della Bosca, would comment to the Herald on Cardinal Pell's remarks yesterday.
Both ministers instead underscored their commitment to current AIDS prevention strategies.
"Australia's relatively low rates of HIV infection are at least in part due to prevention programs, which include safe sex messages, condoms and the needle and syringe program," a spokesman for Mr Della Bosca said.
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