Spain Counters Pope, Sends Condoms to Africa

Spain announced that it will send a million condoms to Africa to fight the rampant spread of HIV on the continent.

The announcement comes a day after Pope Benedict XVI stated that condoms do not slow the spread of HIV but rather "increase the problem." On his way to Cameroon, the pope told reporters, "You can't resolve [AIDS] with the distribution of condoms."

The disbursement of the condoms are to fight HIV with a proven method, the Spanish health ministry said in a statement today. "Condoms have been demonstrated to be a necessary element in prevention policies and an efficient barrier against the virus."

The pope's statements on Tuesday mark the first time he had addressed the use of condoms since taking over as the head of the Catholic Church in 2005, according to The New York Times . The Vatican is strongly opposed to all forms of artificial contraception including condoms, making no exception for protection against STDs, and Spain's government, headed by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has been clashing with Vatican sentiments since 2004, when he entered office.

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Name: hardcpy
Date posted: 5/16/2009 10:40:00 AM
Hometown: perth

Comment:
yet again the control of the catholic church destroys thousands of lives condoms have for, i don't know 80 years or more been proven to stop the spread of HIV and other stds and lets not forget unwanted pregnancies. the only thing preventing condoms from working is idiots that don't use them and the miss information surrounding them. when i was young that's all i heard "use a condom use a condom if you don't you will die" now its use a condom and you will die i hate to invoke the scientist but why not im a stupid non scientist. "According to a 2000 report by the National Institutes of Health, correct and consistent use of latex condoms reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by approximately 85% relative to risk when unprotected, putting the seroconversion rate (infection rate) at 0.9 per 100 person-years with condom, down from 6.7 per 100 person-years. The same review also found condom use significantly reduces the risk of gonorrhea for men" there, good enough for me
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Name: hardcpy
Date posted: 5/16/2009 10:33:00 AM
Hometown: perth

Comment:
yet again the control of the catholic church destroys thousands of lives condoms have for, i don't know 80 years or more been proven to stop the spread of HIV and other stds and lets not forget unwanted pregnancies. the only thing preventing condoms from working is idiots that dont use them and the miss information surrounding them. when i was young thats all i heard "use a condom use a condom if you dont you will die" now its use a condom and you will die i hate to invoke the scentist but why not im a stupid non scentist. "According to a 2000 report by the National Institutes of Health, correct and consistent use of latex condoms reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by approximately 85% relative to risk when unprotected, putting the seroconversion rate (infection rate) at 0.9 per 100 person-years with condom, down from 6.7 per 100 person-years. The same review also found condom use significantly reduces the risk of gonorrhea for men" there good enough for me
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Name: belles
Date posted: 3/20/2009 10:59:00 AM
Hometown: oakland NJ

Comment:
To send condoms to africa is idiotic 1. the condoms are outdated 2. the condoms are cheap and made out of sheepskin 3 very few africans will use them and knowhow to use them. 4. don't send condoms, dummkopf, teach them how to put their dingeling between a sliding door.
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Name: felice
Date posted: 3/20/2009 4:14:00 AM
Hometown: Helsinki

Comment:
I am Italian but I live abroad. I've got used to look at my country from outside and it hurts. It's sad and painful, we are in 2009 and somebody is still brave/ignorant enough to fight against contraception methods... Go Spain, thank you to show the way to go! Wake up Italy! Be realistic, Pope!
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Name: Cath
Date posted: 3/19/2009 4:33:00 PM
Hometown: Sitges

Comment:
Spain does it again! I am proud to be living here where there truly is separation between church and state! My wife and I were able to marry here in Spain..as Zapatero told the public in Spain, gay marriage is not about taking rights away from anyone, but extending rights to those that do not currently have them. The pope was not happy...and I guess he won't be again today. Well done Spain..another statement well made.
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Name: Sandra
Date posted: 3/19/2009 1:57:00 PM
Hometown: Vancouver

Comment:
It's sad when the leader of such a large group of Christians cannot distinguish science from dogma. They only recently un-excommunicated Galileo.
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Name: Wolfgang Schmitt
Date posted: 3/19/2009 8:42:00 AM
Hometown: Cork, Ireland

Comment:
@George... Uhm, 'behind the times' and 'sad'????? Spain is probably one of the most progressive countries in the world.
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Name: Brian
Date posted: 3/19/2009 12:36:00 AM
Hometown: Anaheim

Comment:
Don't be crazy Alex, I know so many gays that would do anything to get out of here and move to Spain. Stay there if you can!!! I'm one who would go in a second.
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Name: George
Date posted: 3/19/2009 12:32:00 AM
Hometown: Bedminster

Comment:
So sad for Spain to be behind the times.
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Name: david greene
Date posted: 3/18/2009 11:05:00 PM
Hometown: Canton Ohio

Comment:
OLE! Viva Espana!

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