"Condoms have a place in the global prevention of AIDS": Spanish bishops

MADRID, Spain (AP) &mdash In a substantial shift from traditional policy, the Catholic Church in Spain has said it supports the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS.

The headline for this article was "Spain Catholics in condom U-turn" but there is a big difference between that and "Condoms have a place." I suspect AP is making a bigger deal about it than necessary.

Apparently the spokesman cited a study which 'supported the so-called "ABC" approach of abstinence, being faithful to partners and using condoms.'

I don't see how the Spanish bishops can do this apart from the Vatican but we'll see how it plays out, and see what the Catholic media have to say.

I know I'm putting my neck on the line here, but the only way I can see condom using being acceptable at all is if they are used completely free from the intent to contracept, and strictly to prevent transmission of disease, as in a case when a husband is infected with HIV. In other words, if you truly do not want to use condoms, then I'd argue for the morality of them for the intention of preventing disease. This is the classical Catholic principle of double effect. However I submit myself to the church's ultimate judgment on the question.

Update: Marty Helgesen says that other bloggers have found that the connection between that story and the truth is rather tenuous. See, for example, http://www.exceptionalmarriages.com/weblog/ for several links to more accurate information.