Church Leaders Back Condom Use in Uganda

Clergy involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS want religious sects to encourage the use of condoms for those who cannot abstain as a measure to curb the increasing spread of the pandemic.

The clergy made their stand recently at the closure of a four-day conference on "The global race to save lives from HIV and AIDS" at Colline Hotel, Mukono, Uganda. The Rt. Rev. Wilson Mutebi said: "HIV/AIDS has continued to devastate our societies even as we preach abstinence and loyalty; it is time we advised those who cannot abstain to use condoms."

Mutebi, who was the chairman of the working group on Faith, Stigma, Shame, Denial, Discrimination, Inaction and Mis-action (SSDDIM) at the conference, observed that infecting others with HIV/AIDS is like committing murder and adultery before God. He, however, said the use of condoms may reduce the two sins of adultery and murder to only adultery if the condom is used well and HIV is not passed on to others.

Most of the religious sects are opposed to the use of condom in the prevention of HIV on grounds that it promotes adultery.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200908311449.html