Heartland

Johannesburg - The South African Council of Churches was "shocked and disgusted" by a call by the Vatican to people worldwide with HIV not to use condoms, said the organisation's spokesperson on Friday.

Father Joe Mdhlela, an Anglican priest representing the council, which represents all South Africa's mainstream churches, including the Roman Catholic church, said Catholicism was failing to take the realities of the world into consideration.

"I am shocked and disgusted with the Catholic church," he said.

"There is undisputed medical evidence that condoms can help save lives. HIV/Aids is a pandemic and, as the council, our belief is to do what is possible to save lives and limit the spread of the disease."

"The Catholic church needs to look at the real world. The church's struggle is in its dogma and teachings and it is struggling to break loose from that."

Roman Catholic leaders from four continents told a BBC television programme to be screened in Britain on Sunday that HIV could pass through tiny holes in condoms.

Must focus on faithfulness

The United Nations agency, UNAids, says sub-Saharan Africa is hardest hit by Aids, being home to more than two-thirds of those infected with HIV or full-blown Aids worldwide - 29.4 million out of 42 million.

There are about four million Catholics in South Africa and several million more in other southern African countries.

Mdhlela said, along with condoms, churches also need to focus on abstinence and faithfulness.

"It is true that churches need to focus on abstinence and faithfulness, but reality does not agree with the Vatican urging HIV sufferers not to use condoms."

Father Hyacinth Ennis, an advisor to the Southern African Bishops Conference on moral issues, said the Catholic church in southern Africa agreed with the Vatican about condoms.

"The bishops regard the widespread use of condoms as an immoral weapon in the battle against Aids," Ennis said.

"Condoms are against human dignity and change the act of love into selfless pleasure. They do not guarantee to stop the spread of Aids and might even be responsible for spread of the disease.

"The bishops' view is that condoms contribute to the breakdown of the moral fibre of nations. Sexual intercourse is very special and should occur only between husbands and wives."