World over, people are bound by belief and adherence to a religion that gives them spiritual nourishment. As such, there are specified days of worship that followers choose to congregate. The Catholic Church positions itself as the oldest church among much other Christian denominations. History places the Roman Catholic as the first Christin church before the birth of other Protestant denominations. Headquartered in Vatican, Rome, Italy, the Roman Catholic church is home to 1.3 billion believers representing 18.1% of the total world population as of 2016 (Goh, 2016). The church embodies morality and ethical world, as such, they are places where people seek to create a good relationship with God. However, there is a concession that all the churches operate in a social setup that is affected by political, economic and environmental issues. As such, and since time immemorial, the church has been at the forefront when it comes to dealing with issues that affect the masses. The Catholic Church is opposed to the use of any artificial contraceptive including condoms even in the wake of the HIV/AIDs epidemic.
HIV/Aids epidemic brought to fore some of the deep underlying difference between the Catholic Church, caregivers, and other stakeholders on the ethical preventive ways as well as the use of contraceptive for birth control. Much of the sharp contrast has been on the mode of prevention of the disease that touches on the use of condoms and contraceptive birth control measures. It is, however, worth noting that the Catholic church is controlled by Vatican Italy and most of the directives are binding to all the Catholic parishes and dioceses around the globe.
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The 1960s sexual revolution that sort to challenge ancient behavior on the interpersonal relationship and the sexuality to spark the Catholic involvement in the sexual and reproductive behaviors of people. In 1968, the late Pope Paul VI did an encyclical on human life which gave contrary views on many social issues that were happening around the world at the time. The book rejected all forms of birth control measures by suggesting that relationship between a man and woman must be that which conforms to Gods teaching. The book, however, supported all forms of natural birth control as the only authentic way of limiting the size of families.
The artificial birth control that is opposed by the Catholic Church includes the use of condoms which are principal measures of HIV control much to the dismay of doctor and HIV/AIDs activists across the globe. A proponent of the condom control measures stood on account that HIV/AIDs was killing millions and it was harsh to deny people one of the safest avenues for controlled deaths. The Catholic church, on the other hand, stood on the ground that use of condoms as HIV/AIDs control tool was one way of legalizing prostitution and immorality among the world populace.
The debate on condom use both for disease prevention and birth control within the rank of Catholic Church is sharply divided. While the two school of thoughts view condoms as one of the effective control measures of HIV during sexual intercourse, the fact it can significantly interfere with procreation during copulation is going against the doctrine upon which the church is anchored. The Catholic church, however, brings a suggestion that sexual intercourse should be between two married couples who are joined lawfully, religiously or customarily as such, the primary AIDS control measure must be on the creation of awareness and education towards sexual responsibility and fidelity among couples. According to the church, sex should only occur within the confines of fidelity in a monogamous union.
The Catholic Church is aware of the challenges that HIV poses to the people. as a result, the church supports programs that aim at help people either in prevention or control. The Catholic Church is the world leading entity in the fight against HIV. It is approximated that Rome supports 15% of all the AIDS-related treatment and support across the globe (Joshua, 2014). It was reported that the Catholic Church has the world’s largest provider of ARV treatment, counseling services, and home-based care services for more than 33.3 million people.
The provision of care and prevention is made among the various programs that the Catholic Church earmarked for prevention and treatments. For instance, a federation of 164 catholic relief organization services that are found in more than 150 nations works with UNAIDS in the committee that looks to prevent new infection among infants (Joshua, 2014). Through this program, HIV positive expectant mothers and children are put on a program that ensures prevention during gestation, at birth, and during breastfeeding.
The disease affected many people from the developing nations such as Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The church through its programs has one of the most vibrant programs that support victims. In Botswana for instance, the Catholic Church is providing home-based care and voluntary services direct at teaching families on AIDS control and prevention; such programs extend to decrease instances of stigma as a way of embracing the affected (Prince et al., 2009). Likewise, in Myanmar, the church is assisting rural dwellers to access medication in town. As such, the church has a program that supports the transportation of the rural dwellers to access medication as well as nutritional and accommodation needs during their visits.
Pope Benedicts in his teachings believes that HIV/AIDs are preventable through human behavioral changes and chastity. In 2005, the Pope said that people have to embrace fidelity in their marriages as the best approach to combat spread of HIV allowing condom usage in his opinion was akin to the commercialization of prostitution and immorality. Pope showed inherent belief that responsible behavior is one of the safest ways of controlling HIV/AIDs spread additionally, a human being must realize the spiritual aspect of sexuality.
Stigmatization is affecting gains that have been made in the control of HIV/AIDs. Pope in his teaching showed awareness of the rejections that HIV victims undergo. He taught on the principle of willingness to make sacrifices, and extended helping had to the victim. Compassion is a way through which victims more so those in denial can overcome the challenges. Pope’s opinion on condom used however was seen to shift when in 2010 he suggested that It would be appropriate to use condoms on some occasion more so when the risks of contraction are too high (Kingston & Quinn, 2010). This suggestion by the pope sparked speculation on the shift in the position of the church.
In summary, the Roman Catholic Church just as it was during the Roman Empire continues to shape public opinion on socio-political issues that affect the people. However controversial, the church has stuck with the claim that condom as a contraceptive is eroding the sanctity of human life and that only responsible sexual behavior can address the HIV challenges that people are facing. The church further premises on the ground that people should learn to practice fidelity in their union. The opinion of the church in condom usage non-the less has not affected its will to roll out programs that aim at helping HIV/AIDS patients across the globe.
References
Goh, M. (2016). Aligning Christians to the biblical model of discipleship at Covenant Evangelical Free Church, Singapore . Union University.
Joshua, S. M. (2014). "Tell me where I can find the condom!" Catholic AIDS discourses in South Africa during the 1990s. Historia , 59 (1), 72-87.
Kington, T., & Quinn, B. (2010). Pope Benedict says that condoms can be used to stop the spread of HIV. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www. the guardian. Com/world/2010/nov/21/pope-benedictcondoms-HIV-infection .
Prince, R., Denis, P., & Van Dijk, R. (2009). Introduction to special issue: engaging Christianities: negotiating HIV/AIDS, health, and social relations in East and Southern Africa. Africa today , 56 (1), v-xviii.
