The Bishop of the Baucau Diocese Dom Basilio do Nacimento said the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste disagrees with the Ministry of Health’s policy to promote the use of condoms as an effective solution to combat and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Bishop Nascimento recognises there are Timorese already infected with the virus but believes rather than promoting the use of condoms there should be increased awareness through sexual education. He added promoting the use of condoms will increase the practice of casual sex in the country.
“The Catholic Church says condoms are not the solution for AIDS. You can call me mentally conservative but the Church’s position all along is that this can only be achieved through education,” said Bishop do Nascimento during a national multi-faith workshop entitled Together To Stop the Transmission of HIV/AIDS held at the Hosana Church in Bebora, Dili.
The Bishop said also the issue of HIV not only relates to health but also to other sectors such as political, commercial and economic, and it is influenced by other social interests.
He called on all parties to reflect on the meaning of the illness and that is not something from the heavens or God’s punishment but it is a result of people’s attitudes and caused by self-harm.
At the same workshop the President of the National Muslim Council of Timor-Leste, Dr. H.
Ahmad Ali Alamubi said he agreed that the policy of condom use will not solve the problem of HIV/AIDS in the country as it encourages people to sin.
“HIV/AIDS affects those who sin so using a condom won’t stop it because those who sin are not bound by the sacrament of marriage. Condoms will not resolve the problem,” he said.
In the meantime the Head of the Department for Contagious Diseases, Ministry of Health, Merita Monteiro said even though religious perceptions are important because the objective is the same, that is to prevent the spread of the virus, the consensus of the health sector globally, including in Timor-Leste, is that it shall recommend condom use to prevent the spread of the HIV virus.
“We do not prescribe to the spiritual side of the issue. Let the Church do that. We are on the health side so the health sector does not forbid the use of condoms,” said Director Monteiro.
She added condom use does not make the spread of the disease 100 percent preventable but it can reduce the transmission of the virus in a small percentage of people and as such it is an effective method to prevent the transmission of the virus during sex.
