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06/28/2004: "Vatican's condom 'bigotry'"

You are probably already aware of this issue: "The European Union has condemned Catholic Church "bigotry" over the use of condoms to fight HIV."
As much as I detest the word "bigotry" especially when it's used to label the church I belong to [though i'm not religious] I can't help but ask what is to be gained from the Vatican making such claims? Cardinal Trujillo may be right about condoms not offering sufficient protection against the HI virus [approx 98% effective against pregnancy so you have to question their effectiveness against the smaller aids virus] but they are better than nothing. Surely it is irresponsible for the church to make such claims? We live in a world where aids is rampant[*see below] so surely the catholic church show throw off it's archaic ways and help protect our fellow man. Abstinence and monogamy may have helped in Uganga but won't do much overall in the fight against this disease.


*
People living with HIV/AIDS .......... 40 million (34 – 46 million)
New HIV infections in 2003 ........... 5 million (4.2 – 5.8 million)
Deaths due to HIV/AIDS in 2003 .... 3 million (2.5 – 3.5 million)

Source:
http://www.unaids.org/Unaids/EN/Resources/Publications/Corporate+publications/AIDS+epidemic+update+-+December+2003.asp