Pope Benedict XVI says use of condoms is now acceptable to help fight HIV

Pope Benedict XVI has said the use of condoms is now acceptable “in certain cases”.

Although the Catholic Church is strongly against artificial contraception, Benedict said condoms for male prostitutes may be justifiable, “in the intention of reducing the risk of infection.”

Benedict went on to say that condom use alone would not solve the problem of HIV/AIDS. “More must happen,” he said.

Asked whether “the Catholic Church is not fundamentally against the use of condoms,” he replies: “It of course does not see it as a real and moral solution.”

The Vatican has long opposed condoms because they are a form of artificial contraception, although it has never released an explicit policy about condoms and HIV. The Church’s hard line stance over the use of condoms has led the Vatican to being harshly criticized for its opposition.

Benedict triggered global outcry in March 2009 on a visit to AIDS-ravaged Africa when he told reporters the disease was a tragedy “that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems.”

While some Roman Catholic leaders have spoken in the past about the limited use of condoms in specific cases to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS as a lesser of two evils, this is the first time the pope has mentioned the possibility.

The late cardinal John O’Connor of New York famously branded the use of condoms to stop the spread of AIDS as “The Big Lie.”