3 Portuguese bishops challenge Pope on condoms

March 30, 2009

Three Portuguese bishops have taken issue with Pope Benedict’s recent comments on condoms and AIDS. Military Bishop Januário Torgal Mendes Ferreira said, in the words of the Associated Press, that “to ban condom use was equivalent to consenting to the death of many people,” adding that the Pope’s advisors should give him “more learned advice.” Bishop Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente of Porto said that the use of condoms by persons with AIDS is “not only recommendable” but also “can be ethically obligatory.” Bishop Ilídio Pinto Leandro of Viseu said that those “who cannot avoid having sexual relations is morally obliged to avoid passing on the disease by using a condom.” The latter two bishops were both appointed to their sees by Pope Benedict.

 

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Further information:

• Condoms sometimes needed, Portuguese bishop says (AP)
• Portuguese bishop Monsignor Ilidio Leandro challenges Pope Benedict XVI's stance on condoms (Melbourne Herald Sun)