AIDS Challenges Religious Leaders
Opposition to Condoms Is Criticized

By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 13, 2001; Page A01

When southern Africa's Roman Catholic bishops held their semiannual meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, last month, the issue at the top of the agenda was a proposal to approve the use of condoms for AIDS prevention.

The bishops -- from South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland -- were well aware that the Vatican bans condoms, regardless of whether their intended use is contraception or disease prevention. But with more than 25 million Africans now infected with HIV/AIDS, many at the meeting felt "we have to be able to say something," said Cape Town Auxiliary Bishop Reginald Cawcutt. "We need the wisdom of Solomon. And we know -- we're really, really aware -- that the world is waiting for us. So is the Vatican."