Mexico City, Mexico, Aug 14, 2007 / 08:21 am
The official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara, El Seminario, published an editorial this week calling for respect for those who question the effectiveness of condoms in the prevention of teen pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, amidst a recent debate on the issue in the region.
The governor of the State of Jalisco, Emilio Gonzalez Marquez, has received an avalanche of criticism for suggesting that abstinence and fidelity be part of AIDS prevention and for saying that the State should not distribute condoms to young people.
“I think we still need to provide this support to the homosexual community, but regarding young people in general, I think it’s not the State’s role to distribute condoms,” Gonzalez said, announcing as well that during his administration condoms would not be distributed at the Jalisco Condom Fair, organized by the State Council for the Prevention of AIDS.
The editorial emphasized that “in a true democracy, the right of all citizens to express their opinions must be guaranteed.” “Although we are all not in agreement, tolerance allows us to listen and to dissent in a civilized manner, expressing our opinions and above all our reasoning,” the editors stated.