Update on Spanish Bishops' Conference on Condoms

Spanish Catholic Church denies it accepts condoms to fight AIDS

The Spanish Roman Catholic Church denied that it had condoned the use of condoms as a legitimate way of fighting HIV/AIDS.

"Contrary to what some have said, it is not true that the Church has changed its position on condoms," the Spanish bishops' conference said in a statement.

The text reasserted that, according to Catholic doctrine, "the use of a condom implies immoral sexual behaviour.

"It is not possible to advise people to use condoms, if it goes against their private morality," added the text, issued in response to comments by the bishops' conference general secretary, Reverend Juan Antonio Martinez Camino.

The use of the qualifying phrase, "if it goes against their private morality", seems to be another ill-advised statement, if the translation above is correct.

More appropriately, it would seem that the statement should have been, "It is not permissible to advise people to use condoms"...Period. No confusion, no ambiguities - in a word, clarity. Why are some so fearful of speaking the truth with precision and simplicity?

In this age of moral confusion and decadence, we must do all we can to proclaim the truth with conviction and clarity, despite the fact that many times it will be rejected or ridiculed. We must also pray that our priests and bishops have the courage to do the same.

Source.