It is important for Christians and other people of faith to learn about their sexual and reproductive health and rights. This is especially important, given the dominant role institutions of faith, such as the Church, play in many countries (even where the Church is said to be separated from the State). After all HIV does not exclude an individual based on their socio-economic status, location or religious belief.

Last week, August 15-21, 2011, I was in Madrid, Spain with a group of other activists from several countries, including Ireland and Poland where the Catholic Church has a great deal of influence. Every four years, Catholic young people from every Diocese across the world meet for what is called “World Youth Day.” This time it was in Spain (one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited). We were there (as a coalition) to bring the message that “Good Catholics Use Condoms” and “Condoms Save Lives” as well as thank the Pope for acknowledging that condoms are effective in preventing the spread of HIV.

It was an interesting, fun and tiring week to say the least; but it was also very instructive for my own work in Jamaica.

Do Good Catholics Use Condoms?
There were hundreds of thousands of young people clad in bright coloured shirts carrying and waving their country flags, singing and routinely shouting ‘Papa’ --the Spanish word for Pope.

I couldn’t understand what there were singing about or what they were saying and I had very little idea about what they --the pilgrims as they are called, at the World Youth Day 2011 were doing in Madrid. Much of it appeared to be a big gathering of Catholic youth in an organized chaos. Despite my ignorance or perhaps the ambiguity surrounding the events, I had one mission -- give as many people as possible a sticker and a post card. I wanted them to know they have and will not defy the “moral code” if they have use a condom. Additionally, encourage people, irrespective of age, to use a condom if they are in circumstances that they must be sexually active.

I knew the Catholic Church (or perhaps it is just the hierarchy and a few “blind” followers) does not support the use of condoms or any other form of contraceptive for that matter. Interestingly, despite their leadership in treatment and care for people living with HIV (PLHIV) their position about condom usage does not change.

Clad in my red shirt marked “condoms save lives” I stood with my friends in Puerta de Sol --the heart of the city-- in the early morning and late afternoon bringing and sharing this wonderful message to Catholic youth, the Bishops and nuns (at least those who would take our materials) and people who live in Madrid.

“How can you be Catholic and use condoms,” some would whisper as they passed us.

“Abstinence!” a few would shout.

Many persons defended the Pope’s ban blindly with their ill-informed positions on condoms. Some were very nice and engaged us about our message. Others would take the materials and laugh in our face. One elderly lady tore it into pieces and knocked everything out of the hands of my colleague Anka from Poland. I appreciate the ones who gave them back to us instead on littering the streets with it. The majority of elderly people from Spain were very supportive.

I had a very good conversation with a lady from the Dominican Republic who now lives in Spain as the rain beat on my back. She didn’t speak English and I know very little Spanish, but I could understand from a few words and her gestures that she love the Pope and thought the rain was a blessing for Papa. Nonetheless, she supported the use of condoms and cited that lots of people are being infected with HIV and too many people, who are not working, are having too many children.

The young people of Brazil, Chile and USA were especially appreciative of the message. What was alarming for me was that so many ‘chaperones’, if I may call them that, were such bullies. Some grabbed the materials from the members of their group. Others waved a stick or shouted in disapproval so they would even consider taking a post card. Why are they so afraid of condoms?

HIV and Catholics
At the end of the World Youth Day event 21,000 young people across the world became infected with HIV. In total there were at least 49,000 new HIV infections when the adults are added.

I wonder if those who were opposed to us sharing this message know this. And if they do, which I am sure many are, why are they so opposed to the use of condoms. Do they know/realize that people are often in situations that they must have sex? Not everyone is able to abstain. I wonder what percentage of the Catholic Church are HIV positive.

What shocks me most is that they believe PLHIV should not have sex. “Well if you have HIV you have no right to have sex,” one guy from Italy said to me as his friends nodded in agreement. I can understand (to an extent by applying all sort of conservative rationale) if the person infected sometime afterbirth but what about those who were born this way? Where do human rights find place in the Church? It also begs to question the wholesomeness of the Catholic healthcare programmes, particularly for HIV.

At the end of the day, despite our Church’s position on the use of condom, the responsibility is that of the individual to protect him/herself and keep their partner(s) safe as well.