AHF lauds ‘Lancet’ editorial criticizing Pope on condoms and HIV

Mar 30 2009

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today lauded the respected British medical journal, 'The Lancet,' for its strongly-worded editorial criticizing Pope Benedict XVI for his public remarks early last week suggesting that condoms are fueling the spread of AIDS in Africa.

In remarks to reporters accompanying the Pontiff on his first Papal visit to Africa, Pope Benedict XVI told reporters, that AIDS "…is a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, and that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems."

In its March 28 th editorial, The Lancet, stated that the Pope's comment was either, "…due to ignorance or a deliberate attempt to manipulate the science to support Catholic ideology," and was a, "…false statement that could be devastating to the health of millions of people." The editorial added that when, "…any influential person, be it a religious or political leader, makes a false scientific statement that could be devastating to the health of millions of people, they should retract or correct the public record." It concluded, "Anything less from Pope Benedict would be an immense disservice to the public and health advocates, including many thousands of Catholics, who work tirelessly to try and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide."

"By stating that condoms exacerbate the problem of HIV/AIDS, it appears the Pope is very publicly trying to distort scientific evidence to promote Catholic doctrine on this issue. We applaud the Lancet for holding the Pope accountable for his short-sighted and self-serving public comments in its editorial," said Michael Weinstein , President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "When condoms are used consistently and correctly they are highly effective in reducing the spread of HIV."

"As the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict certainly has the right to express his opposition to the use of condoms on moral grounds, but when he deliberately distorts widely-recognized and respected scientific findings about the efficacy of condoms in slowing the spread of the AIDS virus, he creates unnecessary impediments in the global fight against the epidemic, and people will die," said Terri Ford , Senior Director of Global Policy for AHF. "The Pope must be reminded that those kinds of statements cost lives, and we thank the Lancet for doing so in its powerful editorial on the Pope's remarks."

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 98,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org.