For the Catholic Church, condoms—even for married couples afflicted with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)—are still a big no-no. An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Wednesday there was still no clear directive from the Vatican that married couples infected with HIV and those with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) could use condoms.
Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL), denied earlier news reports that the influential bishops’ group had given permission to HIV/AIDS patients to use the contraceptives.
“The media have misinterpreted the Church’s teachings, especially regarding contraceptives and abortion, to suit their political agenda. They likewise sensationalize it accordingly to increase readership and viewers and attract advertisers,” Castro said in an interview posted on the CBCP’s official website.
He said, “Under no circumstances have the Vatican and CBCP ever made an official statement that the use of condoms are approved as a last resort.”
The priest, however, admitted that several nongovernmental organizations, political parties and anti-life groups have been clamoring that HIV/AIDS patients be allowed to use condoms.
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