catholicism and condoms

This has been sitting in my "topics to blog about" file since reading about it last March, and in light of my last post I thought it would be a good follow up...

March 17, 2009 - YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Pope Benedict on Tuesday reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church's opposition to the use of condoms in the fight against AIDS as he started a visit to Africa, where more than 25 million people have died from the disease in recent decades.
"It (AIDS) cannot be overcome by the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, they increase the problem," he said in response to a question about the Church's widely contested position against the use of condoms. The disease has killed more than 25 million people since the early 1980s, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, and some 22.5 million Africans are living with HIV. His words were some of his most explicit on the use of condoms to stop the spread of AIDS since his election in 2005.
The Church teaches that fidelity within heterosexual marriage, chastity and abstinence are the best ways to stop AIDS. It does not approve condoms but some Church leaders have been calling for allowing their use in rare cases between married heterosexual couples where one partner has the disease.
"The only solution is two-fold: the first is a humanization of sexuality, a human, spiritual renewal which brings with it a new way of behaving among people and, secondly, a true friendship, especially for those who are suffering, a willingness to make personal sacrifices," he said. He called for "correct behavior regarding one's body."
With the number of practicing Catholics dwindling in the developed world, Africa is seen as vital to the Church's future. But the relationship is not without controversy, mainly over the condoms issue.

There is an interesting commentary on this here that talks about the fact that condom use in Africa has not helped curb the spread of AIDS, and that possibly monogamist coupling does indeed work better. I'm no expert on this subject or on the Catholic church, but what I wanted to point out here is what kind of message is the church delivering to the rest of the world here, especially for those who simply read this article without researching more information about the situation in Africa. I can see some non-believers saying hey, the Pope says we shouldn't be using condoms, so what's the big deal? I understand what the church is trying to promote in making this statement, but in the reality of this world it seems to me that all they're really doing is possibly aiding in the spread of STD's.

I have the hardest time with the phrase increase the problem. I know the church does not believe in sex outside of marriage, and that condom use may promote that in some ways, but how can anyone believe that practicing safe sex adds to the spread of STDs? Yes, I know condoms fail in some instances, but verses constant unprotected sex?

The other phrase I have trouble with is humanization of sexuality to basically promote abstinence. That statement doesn't make much sense to me, and abstinence hasn't worked very well through the ages either.

It seems to me that the Roman Catholic church is further distancing itself from the rest of the world with these stands, and until they change some of their staunch beliefs and rules, they will continue to lose credibility in the eyes of the this world, and alienate some of their followers as well. But if they make those changes and go against thousands of years of doctrine will they lose even more of their congregation? It appears the church is stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place, and how (or if) they're going to work through this issue will be interesting to watch.