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“Condoms have a place in the global prevention of AIDS,” Juan Antonio Martinez Camino, spokesperson for the Spanish Bishops Conference, told reporters after a meeting Tuesday with Health Minister Elena Salgado to discuss ways of fighting the disease.

The Catholic Church has repeatedly rebuffed campaigns for it to endorse the use of condoms in the fight against AIDS. The Vatican states that condoms, because it is a form of artificial birth control, cannot be used to help prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Martinez Camino said the church’s stance was backed by the scientific world. He cited a recent study by experts in the medical magazine Lancet that supported the so-called “ABC” approach of abstinence, being faithful to partners and using condoms.
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The leading daily El Pais pointed out that as recently as November the Spanish Bishops Conference had vehemently opposed the Health Ministry’s campaign to promote the use of condoms. The paper quoted Martinez Camino as saying then that it was “gravely false” to maintain that contraceptives prevented the spread of HIV.
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The United Left parliamentary coalition described the change in stance as “a historic advance."

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[ 19 January 2005: Message edited by: Sara Mayo ]

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FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS

MADRID, Spain - The Catholic Church in Spain backtracked late Wednesday from a leading bishop's groundbreaking statement in support of condom use to fight the spread of AIDS, saying instead the church still believes artificial contraception is immoral.

But on Wednesday night the conference issued a statement saying the bishop's comments "must be understood in the context of Catholic doctrine, which holds that use of condoms is immoral sexual conduct."

It said abstinence and fidelity among sexual partners are the best ways to combat the spread of AIDS and that scientists agree with this approach. "In accordance with these principles, it is not possible to recommend the use of condoms, as it is contrary to a person's morals," the statement said.

"The only truly recommendable practice is responsible use of sexuality, in accordance with moral norms," it added.

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