Belgian ambassador to Holy See told to condemn Pope's condom remarks

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Pope Benedict XVI

Meeting with representatives of other religions in the Chapter Hall of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney
Official biography released by the Holy See
Meeting with benefactors and organizers of the 23rd World Youth Day at the Reception Hall of Cathedral House and in the Chapter Hall of St. Mary's Cathedral
Address of the Holy Father on the meeting with Muslim Religious Leadres,Members of the diplomatic corps and rectors of universities in Jordan

Vatican City, Apr 17, 2009 / 10:53 am (CNA).- Wednesday, April 15 saw an unusual meeting take place as the Ambassador of Belgium to the Holy See delivered an official condemnation of the Pope's remarks on the use of condoms to prevent AIDS in Africa from his country's House of Representatives.

Ambassador Frank de Coninck was ordered by the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs to lodge the official condemnation with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States.

In reaction to the move, the Vatican Secretariat of State said it "notes with regret this action, unusual in the context of the diplomatic relations existing between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Belgium."

The Vatican also said it "deplores the fact that a Parliamentary Assembly should have thought it appropriate to criticize the Holy Father on the basis of an isolated extract from an interview, separated from its context, and used by some groups with a clear intent to intimidate, as if to dissuade the Pope from expressing himself on certain themes of obvious moral relevance and from teaching the Church’s doctrine."

The Secretariat of State also pointed out that the Pope did more than make remarks on the effectiveness of using condoms. Pope Benedict, the Vatican recalled, offered a two prong plan for combating the AIDS crisis. The first part involves "bringing out the human dimension of sexuality," and the second consists of convincing people to offer "true friendship and willingness to help persons who are suffering."

But all of this was passed over by the media as it unleashed a firestorm of criticism, particularly in Europe, the Vatican charged.

Amidst the oftentimes harsh criticism, the Secretariat of State pointed out that it found consolation in the fact that "the moral considerations articulated by the Holy Father were understood and appreciated, in particular by the Africans and the true friends of Africa, as well as by some members of the scientific community."

Numerous members of the African medical community, many with experience combating AIDS, as well as some American experts spoke out in favor of the Pope's words at the time.

Dr. Edward Green, a Senior Harvard Researcher for AIDS Prevention, told CNA that science is finding that the media is actually on the wrong side of the issue. In fact, Green said that not only do condoms not work, but that they may be "exacerbating the problem" in Africa.

In today's statement, the Vatican also noted that the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (CERAO) also welcomed the Pope's words.

"We are grateful for the message of hope which [the Holy Father] came to entrust to us in Cameroon and Angola. He came to encourage us to live in unity, reconciled with one another in justice and peace, so that the Church in Africa can herself be a burning flame of hope for the life of the entire continent. And we thank him for having restated for all, in a nuanced, clear and insightful way, the common teaching of the Church concerning the pastoral care of sufferers from AIDS."

Comments: 18

Subscriber comments:

Published by: H.J.D'Cruz
Karachi 04/21/2009 01:06 AM EST

If one looks at current realities, the catholic church contributes a lot in many counries of the world in form of education, health care and human deveolopment. This is not only in muslim countries and other countries and without discrimination.In fact many governemts recognise this as a great assistance to the state in many forms.Please stop attacking the Pope,Vatican or the catholic church with baseless critism or envy.

Published by: William
USA, PA 04/20/2009 02:39 PM EST

One: Condoms don’t work. That’s stated in the article, paragraph nine (9). Two: the Belgium diplomatic action was based on information taken out of context. This is all in the article. Just read it.

Published by: john quin
clonakilty, co, cork, ireland 04/20/2009 12:39 PM EST

Please forward this to the Belgian Govt and their ambassador to the Holy See:
Re condoms: "If the intent is to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDs, their advice is ill conceived in the extreme. The high failure rate of condoms in the prevention of pregnancy alone argues against their use for a fatal disease. It is well established that latex rubber contains flaws that are at least 50 times larger than the AIDS virus. This has been demonstrated both by electron microscopy and fracture mechanics analysis. The flaws are naturally occurring, their existence unrelated to to the details of the processing, manufacturing and handling of the material. The problem with latex rubber is compunded by the fact that US Federal Drug Administration tests cannot detect flaws even 100 times larger than the AIDS virus. The method for assessing leakage [ASTM D3492] is blind to leakage volumes of less than one microlitre; yet this quantity of seminal fluid has been found to contain as many as 100,000 HIV particles. " C. M. Roland PhD; US Naval Research Lab., Washington DC.
The "risk" that the Holy Father attached to condom usage in his (usually) mis-reported comment is thus very real.

Published by: H.J.D'Cruz
Karachi 04/19/2009 11:08 PM EST

The Pope remarks on condomes are welcome by all people who are sraunch believers of faith and moral values. The pope did not put any sanctions on anyone who does not like his frank opinion.The pope is the defender of faith and morals and has not hurt anyone or any group of people on the any subject.Everybody is entittled to his / her opinion and so is the pope.It looks like the Belgium parliment has nothing better do discuss or critise but likes to appease and support immoral acitivities. God save Belgium and the west which is responable for moral decay under the garb of democracy.

Published by: Charles
tiburon ca. 04/19/2009 02:05 PM EST

Belgium, isn't that the little country supported by everyone else? Squeaking like the wheel that needs oil or in this case, please notice us. Oh yes and was there not once a "Belgian Congo" which was exploited by the "Kingdom of Belgium", go back to making chocolates you unimportant beaurocrats.

Published by: DJSunseri
California, USA 04/19/2009 01:07 AM EST

The problem is that the Vatican is a City State. No other religion has such a status. As such the pope is the de facto head of that state and should be subject to political pressure as any other politician. Perhaps the Vatican might give up its current status so the pope is seen as more of a religious leader than a head of state.

Published by: robin
phoenix, arizona, usa 04/17/2009 11:27 PM EST

If it is incorrect for governments to communicate with the Vatican through their ambassador's, what is the point of such ambassadorial relationships? By the way, Linda of England. Public officials who are elected, serve the people rather than dictate to them. Being responsible to the people, they are a good deal less pompous than someone who is accountable to no one. The Pope is accountable to God. But history indicates God rarely does anything about the Popes mistakes. (ask Gallileo, the Cathars, the Jews in Spain, or the children raped by recycled priests).

Published by: mary
houma,la. usa 04/17/2009 07:32 PM EST

I don't think that most people realize that the aids virus is so small it can pass through a condom snd they can break. The church and the Pope are absolutely correct about their stand on condoms.

Published by: Bradford McIntyre
Vancouver,B.C. Canada 04/17/2009 04:57 PM EST

The Pope continues to ignore the need to promote the use of condoms in order to save lives and stop the AIDS epidemic. It is impossible to eradicate the transmission of HIV and prevent many suffering from AIDS when we have religious leaders undermining prevention efforts. Governments around the world should take note and follow the Belgium governments lead and condemn the Pope's remarks on the use of condoms to prevent AIDS. For 25 years condoms have been at the forefront of HIV prevention. The Pope's views are not only wrong but they are dangerous. Why should the Pope be able to ignore the scientific evidence that condoms help prevent ( have and do ) the spread of AIDS and tout abstinence when all the studies done show abstinence doesn't work!

The majority of infections around the world are due to one simple truth that people ARE having sex without a condom!

Published by: dAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass. USA 04/17/2009 02:42 PM EST

Condoms and Abortion are the solutions of those without hope in the treatment of AIDS and other venereal diseases. These treatments are not scientific as a proven method for "safe Sex". John Paul 2 with his "Theology of the Body" and chastity with abstinence are sure fire ways to achieve prevention of these unnecessary diseases,they are proven scientific and moral methods for avoiding disease from dangerous and unhealthy sexual practices. The Belgian government are beyond a sense of healthy reasoning in the matter of sexual health. So are many others for that matter. Pope Benedict is the Pope Of Truth! Listen to Him!

Published by: Raymond Peringer
Toronto, Canada 04/17/2009 02:25 PM EST

Don't you just love Belgian politicians who likely have not been to Africa since the time that nation devastated so much of the continent? They and their like are under the influence of the AIDS Establishment which is funded by the condom industry. As usual, if you want to learn of someone's motivation, just follow the money

Published by: Danny
Dallas, TX 04/17/2009 02:21 PM EST

Looks like the Belgians are upset because the Holy Father won't waffle on this issue.

Published by: Myles Keogh
Fort Riley Kansas 04/17/2009 02:09 PM EST

LOL...I am sure the Holy Father and the Catholic Church really need to listen to and take advice from politicians and their ignorant constituents that brought about the deaths of millions by starting two world wars and numerous communist and nazi persecutions.

Published by: Steve
Boston/MA/USA 04/17/2009 01:04 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

The Catholic Church has done more to treat the victims of the AIDS epidemic than anyone else. As well, the Church offers the only hope for stopping the spread of the disease and has demonstrated the only positive results in Africa. Even Harvard researchers agree that condom distribution has led to an increase in risky behavior due to a false sense of protection. Belgium should be condemned for politicizing the Pope's remarks and acting as though what they say on the matter is relevant.

Published by: Brian
Ottawa, ON. Canada 04/17/2009 12:56 PM EST

We all recall the old saying: "Something is Rotten in Denmark",and now we know what it is...The House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Published by: james Maher
Ireland 04/17/2009 12:52 PM EST

Belgium's political negative, superficial response to the Pope's statement has to be quite predictable. Can we expect anything else from politicians, or the media, fore that matter?

However, I would respect informed, objective, un-biased specialist medical opinion like Dr. Edward Green.

In my opinion Uganda's ABC works i.e. Abstinence, Be faithful to one partner and, then, a Condom!

Published by: Kathleen
Bronx, NY, USA 04/17/2009 12:18 PM EST

And exactly when did the Belgian government become theologians? Belium's King Leopold owned, exploited, and ruined the Congo.

Published by: linda
England 04/17/2009 12:11 PM EST

I hope the Holy See told the Belgian ambassador that the Church does not take her cue from man-made authorities but from Christ who is God Himself. And it is He whom the Church obeys - not pompous self-serving officials.

It seems this is a message the world as yet doesn't understand. This must be put right!

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