Editorial

On World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, a group called Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC) launched a public education campaign condemning the Vatican for its opposition to the use of condoms in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

CFFC uses the word "Catholics" in its name with no authorization from the Catholic Church. In fact, CFFC does not speak for all Catholics and could even be labeled anti-Catholic.

As William Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights pointed out, "Catholics for a Free Choice is one of the nation's premier Catholic-bashing groups. There is nothing Catholic about it save for its name: the U.S. bishops have twice condemned it as a fraud."

Culture of death. In its campaign, CFFC's director, Frances Kissling, accuses the Catholic Church of promoting a culture of death in its opposition to condoms. She fails to point out that the level of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has risen dramatically in the last two decades along with increased use of condoms.

It's ironic that Kissling charges the Catholic Church with promoting a culture of death. In fact, it's just the opposite. The Catholic Church has worked tirelessly to promote a culture of life by encouraging responsible sexual activity in marriage and urging abstinence outside of married life.

Abstinence has been proven to be the only real way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases. As Donohue points out, "Between the defects in condoms, their improper storage, improper usage, and their inability to prevent STDs that are spread from skin to skin, it is no wonder that the level of condom use and the incidence of STDs track each other."

"Safe sex." Condoms lull young people and others into thinking that they prevent diseases. They think they can have "safe sex," when the only real safe sex is no sex - or sex with a married partner who has been checked and cleared by a health professional.

There are those who say, "You can't prevent people from having sex, so at least they should use condoms." That method of education is catering to the lowest common denominator. Instead, we should be teaching young people the value of their sexuality, encouraging them to abstain from promiscuous sexual activity, and promoting the value of marriage.

Healthier lifestyle. Some may call this attitude naive. But it is not only a moral way of life, it is also a healthier lifestyle.

Good Catholics do NOT use condoms. They respect their own lives and the lives of their partners. They value their sexuality and exercise it responsibly in a loving, committed marital relationship.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

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To the publisher:

Thank you for your check of $15,975.54 for a total of $15,975.54 representing the contribution of the Diocese of Madison to the 2003 Collection for the Church in Latin America. Our Committee on the Church in Latin America is most grateful for this assistance.

As you know, our purpose is to provide aid to projects which address the pastoral needs of the faithful of Latin America and the Caribbean. The wide range of requests include formation programs for priesthood, religious life and lay leadership, as well as catechetical training and youth ministry programs.

Additionally, the Committee has recently provided assistance to the rebuilding of chapels in rural areas of El Salvador that were damaged by last year's series of three earthquakes. Thus, our support for the work of the Church in Latin America continues to advance the proclamation of the Gospel in a multitude of ways.

As we continue to prepare for the coming of the Lord during this holy season, we continue to ask the Lord to bless our Catholic people who, through their generosity and under the able guidance of their Bishops, are responding faithfully to "Building one Church in one America."

Fraternally yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Edmond Carmody, Bishop of Corpus Christi
Chairman, Committee on the Church in Latin America