Ask Pope Benedict to Lift the Ban on Condoms!

Catholics for a Free Choice is asking for people of all faiths to sign on to a letter asking Pope Benedict to lift the Church's ban on condoms to protect against HIV/AIDS. The Condoms for Life campaign launched on World AIDS Day 2001, and has been working to change the Church's position on condoms to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Why does this matter, especially to people of different faith traditions? Because a Catholic health system may be the ONLY health system in your community (as it is in mine). Throughout the US, Catholic hospitals and health services have a mixed record on providing care, resources, and referral for HIV/AIDS prevention and ongoing care. (See New York, California, DC.) It is imperative that all people have access to these services free of guilt, fear, a lecture, or a run-around.

In related news, a recent poll shows that the majority of Kenyan Catholics support the use of condoms to prevent the spread of disease.

"It is very apparent that the Catholic church's official position is at odds with most of its members, and thus needs to do a lot more work in its pursuit of its policy in this particular area, or simply tolerate their dissent," says a section of the report released by Steadman Group.

According to the study, more than three quarters of Kenyans support condom use for family planning and prevention against sexually transmitted diseases, with even stronger support for the latter.

Sign on today!