Vatican City, Nov 30, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The Vatican released today a message written by Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, on the occasion of the World Day Against AIDS.
Cardinal Barragan reaffirmed that “the best cure is prevention to avoid infection by HIV/AIDS, which we should remember is transmitted through the triple route of blood, transmission from mother to child, and sexual contact,” and stressed that sexual transmission remains the most important pathway through which the disease continues to spread.
“This is greatly fostered by a kind of pansexual culture that devalues sexuality, reducing it to mere pleasure without any further meaning. Radical prevention in this field must come from a correct conception and practice of sexuality, where sexual activity is understood in its deep meaning as a total and absolute expression of the fecund giving of love,” he said.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Catholic institutions in the fight against AIDS saying “ the Catholic Church continues to make her contribution. 26.7% of centers for the provision of care in relation to HIV/AIDS in the world are Catholic based. Local Churches, religious institutions and lay associations.”