MANILA, Philippines?The Catholic hierarchy in the country should take cue from the statement of Pope Benedict XVI, who said he doesn?t oppose the use of condom to prevent AIDS, and begin to open its mind about a reproductive health policy, a lawmaker said on Monday.

Representative Luz Ilagan of Gabriela party list hailed the Pope?s statement, saying that it will boost the chances of the reproductive health bills now pending in the House of Representatives.

?The hierarchical church should take its cue from the Pope, who has shown open-mindedness on social realities. It is time to consider the plight of the poor, the sick, and the marginalized in particular and the flock in general,? Ilagan said in a text message when asked to react to the statement.

In excerpts of his upcoming new book, the Pope cites the example of the use of condoms by prostitutes as ?a first step toward moralization,? even though condoms are ?not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection.?

The 219-page book is made up of Benedict?s responses to questions by German Catholic journalist Peter Seewald over a month of meetings at the papal summer residence.

After the Pope first mentions that the use of condoms could be justified in certain limited cases, such as by prostitutes, Seewald asks: ?Are you saying, then, that the Catholic Church is actually not opposed in principle to the use of condoms??

The Pope answers: ?She of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but, in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality.?

Ilagan and Representative Arlene ?Kaka? Bag-ao of Akbayan party list welcomed the pronouncement of the Pope, adding that it would boost the RH bill in the House.

?It is a glimmering illumination toward the brighter light at the end of the tunnel of misunderstanding and ignorance. It is an acceptance of the reality of AIDS and that condom is not merely for contraception,? Bag-ao, however, said that the issue of reproductive health should not be seen in the light of a theological debate, but as an issue of public health.

?The Vatican or the Church does not dictate the pace of the work of Congress. The bill will be passed regardless of the level of understanding of the church on condom,? she said.

Paranaque Representative Roilo Golez, who advocates a pro-life stance, said the Pope ?did not say the Church is not at all opposed to condom use, especially to fight AIDS.?

Golez said it was clear in the pronouncement that condoms should be used by male prostitutes with AIDS to prevent them from infecting others.

?The pro-RH folks should address male prostitutes with AIDS to promote condoms if they are in agreement with the Pope?s stand,? Golez said.

In a separate statement, Bacolod Representative Anthony Golez said the Pope?s acceptance on the use of condoms to lower the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission is a welcome development.

?This is our way of contributing to humanity in our quest to protect and preserve life from this killer infection,? he said.

However, Golez, a medical doctor, warned that condom use should not be abused as a ?ticket to promiscuity,? but as ?tool to be more responsible to the choices one makes.?

The Bacolod lawmaker has filed a resolution to determine when life begins, as a way to settle the debates on the controversial reproductive health bill.

There are at least seven RH bills pending in the committee on population.