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Brazilian Priest Urges Condom Use to Fight AIDS



By Matthew Harris

SAO PAOLO, Brazil (Reuters Health) - A Catholic priest won the backing of the Brazilian Ministry of Health here yesterday in a controversial fight over the use of condoms in AIDS prevention.

The Catholic Church had this week publicly denounced the practices of Father Valeriano Paitoni of the Nossa Senhora de Fatima church in Sao Paulo, and had even threatened to implement a form of pastoral punishment if he continues his work in distributing and defending the use of condoms in AIDS prevention.

In a statement, published in the national newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo, the archbishop of Sao Paulo, Claudio Hummes, on behalf of the Catholic Church, said it was considered ''unacceptable'' that Father Valeriano continue this work, and upheld the belief that the only way to prevent the spread of AIDS is through ``celibacy before marriage and fidelity during marriage.''

  In response to the Church's position, the Ministry of Health published a statement in yesterday's edition of the Folha de Sao Paulo in support of the work of the priest, stating ``...(Father Valeriano) is one of the pioneers in the fight against AIDS and an important partner for the Ministry of Health.... (The statement by the Church) demonstrates the distance between its discourse and the reality experienced by those who work in AIDS-related sectors.''

The statement went further, asking for the Church to reflect on its position before it makes itself responsible for the dissemination of the epidemic throughout Brazil.

Father Valeriano, who has been working in this area since 1984, came into the spotlight this week after his production of a new video promoting the use of condoms made Brazilian headlines.

In an interview with the Folha de Sao Paulo, Father Valeriano commented that he had met with the Archbishop Claudio Hummes in January to discuss his activities, and no action was taken against him, simply a reiteration of the official position of the Church was made.

Father Valeriano went on to explain that this recent condemnation by the Church is in response to pressure from the Vatican.

Brazil is the world's largest Catholic country, with over 80% of the population declared Catholic. At present, according to the Ministry of Health, 530,000 Brazilians are believed to be infected with HIV and there have been 100,000 deaths to date and 30,000 youngsters orphaned.

When used properly, condoms provide about 95% protection against the virus.

(From Yahoo)

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