The Pope vs. condoms.

In regards to the article ‘A first step’ (TOI Nov’23), it is indeed a welcome step taken by Pope Benedict XVI’s to reconsider the use of condoms to prevent the risk of AIDS infections. However, the use of condoms as a contraceptive is still off limits.

The main motive of using a condom is to prevent infection and conception during sexual intercourse. So they should be encouraged and not abandoned. This is because both HIV and birth control are crucial to human existence. If there’s no cure for the deadly disease at least there should be ways to prevent it and a condom is one of the options. Birth rate on the other hand is growing at an alarming pace not only in India but also in other parts of the world. If this expansion of human population is unrestricted, it could pose a serious threat to the planet. Threats that are certainly unfavorable not only to the present but the future generation too. Nonetheless, the question of religion’s involvement in the issue is trivial.

Therefore, it should be understood that condoms does to a certain extent solve life threatening issues and that their use (whether as prevention of HIV or as contraceptives) should be made mandatory irrespective of whatsoever. It could lead humanity closer to the ‘promise land’.