Catholic Church: C is for chastity, not condom

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo. INQUIRER file photo

The Catholic Church says there is another “C” that’s more effective in curbing the spread of the deadly HIV-AIDS virus: Chastity, not condoms.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo on Sunday said the Church was advocating chastity and fidelity among couples as the best way to stop the spread of the sexually transmitted HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the country.

“There is a need to educate the people about chastity to avoid irresponsible sexual behavior and  fidelity to one’s spouse or family,” said Pabillo following the formation of a giant human “AIDS Ribbon” at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila Sunday.

World health authorities recently said  the Philippines was one of the few remaining countries in the world where the HIV-AIDS virus  was still on the rise. In a report released in time for World AIDS Day on December 1,  the World Health Organization credited strong preventive measures—mainly through safe sex campaigns advocating the use of condoms—for the epidemic’s declining trend.

The influential local Catholic Church, however, is against the use of artificial contraceptives like condoms, and is also campaigning against sex education in schools.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ National Secretariat for Social Action, chaired by Pabillo, said the Church was nonetheless doing its part in the anti-AIDS campaign.  Jocelyn R. Uy