USE OF CONDOMS IMMORAL, SAYS PHILIPPINES ARCHBISHOP

Manila: The influential Catholic Church has called on celebrities not to accept offers from the government to endorse the use of condoms for the prevention of the spread of HIV/Aids.
"We are discouraging celebrities from appearing in such advertisements because people look up to them as models," said Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

• "[The use of] condoms is immoral and they should not let themselves be used to promote it," said Archbishop Lagdameo, adding celebrities should not unwittingly become accomplices in promoting promiscuity because they are mandated "to protect people's morals, especially the youth".
• Celebrities often tapped as product endorsers, should not believe that promoting condoms will stem the rising number of HIV/Aids cases, he said.
• Action star Robin Padilla has been promoting the use of condoms for a private firm.
• Earlier, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, said the government will hire a celebrity to promote the use of condoms for the prevention of HIV/Aids.
• "He or she must be a volunteer," said Cabral when asked how much the government would spend for the campaign.
• Condom distribution should not be misconstrued by the Catholic Church as the government's advocacy for licentiousness, argued Cabral.
• It was in response to Catholic bishops and pro-life groups who said the promotion of condoms was the promotion of promiscuity.
• The ABC of the government's three-point campaign to combat HIV/Aids is "abstinence, faithfulness, and condom use," said Cabral.
• A pro-life group has challenged Cabral to a public debate. The date has not been finalised.

Source: gulfnews