Santiago, Chile, Aug 4, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The Diocese of San Bernardo in Chile is denouncing a government plan to promote the use of condoms, saying the plan goes against the common good and a healthy understanding of sexuality among young people.
In a statement, the Chilean diocese noted that the government’s determination to go ahead with the plan demonstrates its inability to address the delicate issues related to the formation of young people based on rigorous scientific and moral criteria.
“The authorities know that condoms are not the answer to possibly contracting AIDS” or any other sexually transmitted disease, affirms the statement. Similarly, it adds, they do not prevent the problem of so-called unwanted pregnancies, as condoms have a failure rate of “between 15% and 36%.”
The diocese is calling on Catholics to openly reject the government plan “and demand that authorities come up with true solutions to the problems that are affecting our young people and so many others.”