The Vatican has "clarified" the pope's comments about condoms and HIV, saying he never suggested condom use could be condoned for preventing pregnancy. The Vatican's 'moral watchdog', the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, has issued a statement saying some commentators had misunderstood and misrepresented the Pope's remarks in a book-length interview released last month. Pope Benedict XVI said that condoms weren't the real or moral solution to battling HIV and AIDS. However he said that condom use in some cases, such as for male prostitutes, could be a first step toward a more moral and responsible human sexuality. The Vatican statement has reaffirmed that the church considers prostitution "gravely immoral." "However, those involved in prostitution who are HIV positive and who seek to diminish the risk of contagion by the use of a condom may be taking the first step in respecting the life of another even if the evil of prostitution remains in all its gravity," it said.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 22nd December 2010 - 1:04pm