The Pope, Condom, Media And International Organisations

Pope Benedict has been on media spotlight recently, for his comments on condom, in an interview with a German journalist, Peter Seewald. The full details of the interview is in a book to be release this week titled, “Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times”. The world media and major international institutions have welcomed the comments and consider it “a significant and positive step forward’’ by the Catholic Church on condom.

The Catholic Church has a potent voice on condom debate because not less than a billion people consider themselves faithful. In the case of Africa, 17 percent of the populations are Catholics. Also, the Catholic Church plays significant role in health service delivery around the world. 25 percent of AIDS victim around the globe are treated in Catholic health centres. In sub-Sahara Africa, the Catholic Church is a major provider of health facilities and dedicated health workers in deprived and remote areas. Pope Benedict has always been proud to assert that no institution in Africa has done more to combat AIDS and support victims than the Catholic Church.

Major international bodies and Western donor countries in the forefront fighting AIDS oppose the Catholic Church views on condoms. In 2009, the pope on flight to Cameroun, emphasized that distribution of condoms has not help solve the problem of AIDS but exacerbate it. He encouraged campaigners to promote responsible sexuality. Not surprisingly, international organisations and world news media raised intense criticisms on his comments, particularly its implications on Africa, where the Church faithful unlike their Western brethren are more likely to embrace the message. Nevertheless, listening to the opinion of leaders of the Catholic Church in Africa such as Cardinal Turkson, they argued the Pope was misinterpreted by the media.

It is becoming obvious that the secular world, particularly international organisations and media does not want to meaningfully engage the Catholic view and nuance discussion on condom. Nevertheless, they are always ready to make single story analysis on any comment by Vatican or its officials on condoms that tickle their prejudices. It is common to encounter outstanding international professionals in the field of AIDS, who have no clear idea of the Catholic Church pronouncements in the Magisterium on the subject and yet gives sharp criticisms or impose broad implications on every statement by the Catholic Church.

What exactly does the Church teaches about condom? The Catholic Church has no official document on condoms. However the Catholic Church believes that contraception interferes with the creation of life. All forms of sex acts must be for the purposes of procreation and it only for married couples. Artificial birth control like condoms and other forms of sexual acts such as masturbation and anal sex, which does not lead to procreation, are considered evil. The main rationale behind this teaching is the dignity of the human person. Intrinsically condom is considered to debase the dignity of the human person by making people objects of pleasure.
In the question and answer book with Peter Seewald, Ratzinger speak on his own, and not as “The Catholic Church” or “The Vatican”. He stated, “ There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first step assumption of responsibility.’’ He also maintained that the Catholic Church does not regard condom as a “ real or moral solution’’ but in certain cases , the intension of reducing spread of virus infection can be considered as a “more human way, of living sexuality”. The emphasis is a specific case, a male-male sex which is already considered as sin. He further argued, if the world become obsesses with condoms, we trivialize sexuality and lessen the dignity of human sexuality.

Unfortunately, the world media and international organisation such BBC,CNN and UNAIDS, without full knowledge of the pope’s views in the book to deconstruct it nuances, has been quick to judge and assume that is a “revolutionary” turn by the Church on condom. Despite, Vatican, chief spokesman, Rev. Federico Lomnardi , insisting abstinence and fidelity is still principal and that there is no fundamental change to the official teachings of the Catholic church. These institutions have still gone ahead to welcome the Pontiff comments and claim is expected to create a new space to engage Catholics, particularly in Africa on the use of condoms as a tool to prevent HIV/AIDS.

I do consider Vatican in this particularly case, as not been forthright communicating her views on condom to the world - may be for fear of public criticisms or the result of liberals within her circle. Also, the communication machinery has not been prudent in handling the issue. Even the I’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican semi-official newspaper, and breach the law on publication embargo by publishing excerpts of the book’s content before its release.

However, we cannot dismiss the Church’s teaching on condoms which upholds the dignity of the human person on sexuality. It is worth maintaining and promoting. The wisdom in it makes sense on lots of grounds and should not be misconstrue. Human beings should not be conceptualized as sex objects, which some how, condoms turn us into. Accepting the general use of condom by the Church can be liken to the Catholic Church saying, “if the Church has failed to convince armed robbers from stealing and causing harm to the world, then the next step is to encourage then to target the most wealthy in our societies ”.

It may be reasonably for UNAIDS and its allied organisations to keep on encouraging condom use, but it is a great disservice to humanity if we seek to drive out the voices of those who preach abstinence and fidelity. It serves no good for the fight against AIDS. Let give the Catholic Church the space to keep people focus on the ideal solution to HIV/AIDS which is abstinence. While the other institution focus on condom. There is no harm if we keep both voices than trying to force one out. What do we achieve from it? It is just like trying to dismiss United Nations because there will always be some form of conflict in human society. So do we convince ourselves and say “we do not need institution to seek the ideal of world peace, which never be fully achieve”?


I think the world media, has not been able to fairly deconstruct the Pontiff message well enough. The views on the media coverage so far, indirectly down play on behavioural change and promote condom .The UNAIDS in attempt to “soften” the Catholic Church stance is rather succeeding in promoting condom at the expense of abstinence and fidelity as well as changing the ABC theory. The cases of Thailand and Cambodia, which are often used to support condom as prevention tool for HIV/AIDS are debatable if you consider Uganda and other countries that emphasis on behavioural change. Already, Thailand is even facing a resurgence of AIDS in recent times.

Yaw Martin Agyemang Badu
Dignity and Entrepreneurship Institute
thedeighana@gmail.com