THE TEACHINGS OF THE LOCAL CHURCH ON HUMAN SEXUALITY
Question 5: Do you think that people consider the teachings of the Church on human sexuality in their decisions on sex and sexual matters?
5.3 DISSENTING VOICES
5.3.2. The Response of a South African Woman Theologian on the Position taken by Bishop Dowling on Condom use as a Means of
these desperate situations to adhere to standards for people in fully human situations and conditions. They refer to the principle of the lesser evil, which means that if a woman uses a condom, where a partner isI-llVpositive, outside marriage, she is showing some measure of responsibility. Although it is an uncontested fact that condoms do not guarantee protection against AIDS the Sisters for Justice question the SACBC statement that condoms may be one of the main reasons for the spread of AIDS. For them the SACBC statement seems to suggest that the availability of condoms may lead to an increase in promiscuity. They hold that there is evidence to the contrary. Numerous studies in Uganda and Senegal, among others, have shown that information on condoms can result decreasing new lllV infections.In conclusion they state that condom use is only a surface issue here. What is at stake here is the kind of Church we would like to be as we reach out in compassion to those in mortal danger.
5.3.2. The Response of a South African Woman Theologian on the
Bishop Dowling upholds the Church's position that the "only complete safeguard against infection by the H.!. virus and AIDS is abstinence from sex before marriage and faithfulness to one's partner in marriage." He adds that people need to be called to a change in lifestyleifthey do not live according to this.
However, he expresses pastoral concern for those who are forced to be victims of irresponsible people who take no heed of the Church's call to live according to these standards of virtue and faithfulness. I am particularly appreciative of Bishop Dowling's sensitivity to the vulnerability of women with regard to AIDS. InAfrica especially, women liveinconditions of great poverty and inequality. Sexual violence is often perpetrated against women by unheeding partners, or by partners who are ignorant of their own HIV status. The child conceived when even one partner is HIV- positive will probably be born infected with the virus. It becomes a matter ofjustice to help these women protect themselves and their children. The sad truth is that women in these situations are often in no way able to ask for or insist on the use of a condom.
As part of an AIDS education campaign, in which the value of respect for oneself and others would be upheld, the use of condoms where there is any risk of infection could be promoted as a minimal means of expressing such respect.
Bishop Dowling also speaks of the plight of single women who are
desperately seeking a way out of hopeless poverty and are driven or forced into seeking liaisons which offer a way out, but a the same time hold the potential of death if she becomes infected with the H.!. virus. The use of a condom could at least prevent such infection. Itis well known that condoms are not 100% effective but they have played a major role in reducing the number of infections in countries such as Kenya
Inthe context of the growing AIDS pandemic, condom use as a means of preventing the spread ofHIV/AIDS can be viewed in tenns of the principle of double-effect in which the aim is the "greater good" or the "lesser of the two evils". Each day throughout the world, 15 000 people become newly infected with AIDS. According to the director of the SACBC AIDS desk, in sub- Saharan Africa the infection rate per day is the highest in the world and South Africa has the highest number of people infected with the virus in the world.
Inview of this, the pastoral need to reach out to people in compassion is extremely compelling. Once can only imagine that this would be the stance of the One who came "that they may have life, and have it to the full". Africa is dying of AIDS. Inthe next ten years, Africa will have 29 million AIDS orphans and will have reduced the gross national product of heavily affected countries like South Africa by as much as 17 percent.
Together with the many women religious and other people in this country who support Bishop Dowling's courageous and compassionate stance, I call on you, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Southern Africa, to give just and compassionate consideration to the issue of the use of condoms as means of helping to prevent the spread of AIDS in our country.
(SR) PATRICIA FRESEN, OP (King William's Town Dominicans) This statement is written with the full support of other members of our Regional Leadership Team, comprising:
Sr Geraldine Devine, OP Sr Jordana Rechtien, OP Sr Mary McCreath, OP
The following sisters who comprise our Congregational Leadership Team and are presently in the country also give their full support to this statement:
Sr Margo Verspeek, OP Sr Agnes Murphy, OP Sr Maureen Yenson, OP
Many of our other sisters have signed statements of support of Bishop Dowling's position These are being forwarded to the SACBC.
21 July 2001
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Fresen (200I)9believes that the use of condoms as a means of preventing death and disease is both morally and pastorally defensible. She compares condom use with the case of a woman who undergoes hysterectomy because of a uterus tumour. This is defensible evenifit renders her sterile. She sees Dowling as having a pastoral concern for those who are forced to be victims of those who do not heed the Church's call to live a life of virtue and faithfulness. She sees Dowling as sensitive to the vulnerability of women with regard to AIDS. With so much sexual violence against women this becomes a matter ofjustice for women to protect themselves and their children. Condom use is a minimal means of expressing respect for self and for others. Condoms have played a major role in reducing the number of infections in countries such as Kenya She states that condom use in this AIDS pandemic context can be viewed in terms of the principle of double effect. Inthis principle the aim is always the greater good. The Church needs to reach out in compassion. She ends her statement by calling on the SACBC to give a just and compassionate consideration to the issue of condoms to help prevent the spread of AIDS in South Africa
9ADominican sister.