This post has been updated
In the political world they’d call this a flip-flop. In religious terms, I’d say that Catholics in Spain are motivated by new revelations from God.
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- In a substantial shift from traditional policy, the Catholic Church in Spain has said it supports the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS.
"Condoms have a place in the global prevention of AIDS," Juan Antonio Martinez Camino, spokesman for the Spanish Bishops Conference, told reporters after a meeting Tuesday with Health Minister Elena Salgado to discuss ways of fighting the disease.
How will the Vatican react to this challenge to doctrine? Don’t look for the Pope to change his stance. But it isn’t unreasonable to believe that more and more Catholic leaders will break with the Vatican over the fight against AIDS and other health issues. After all, we all want a culture of life and AIDS is the ultimate culture of death.
Related Post: World AIDS Day 2004 Prayer
Update: American Catholics do not follow church teaching on condom use. That's a good thing. One group of Catholics has even set-up a web site, Condoms4Life.org, to offer other Catholics information on why condom use is important. Their ultimate aim: to stop Catholics bishops the world over from preaching against condom use. Pray for their success.
Update: It looks like Rome is trying to reign in those radical Spaniards. Spain’s Catholic Bishops are back tracking on a statement made yesterday in which they stated their support for condom use in the fight against AIDS. One step forward - and several hundred back. For those counting: 4.9 million people contracted AIDS in 2004 (over 600,000 of those were children). Women are at a growing risk for the disease. Click here to read the report from Human Rights Watch on how Rome's policies are allowing men, women and babies to die.
