A lot has been said by civil society, government, and just about every other sector about the need to tackle Belize's growing HIV/AIDS problem. The approach now, as lewd as it may sound, is to just let's talk about sex. But even as safe sex advocates freely show high schoolers how to use condoms, a more conservative, subtle, and religious approach has been taken by the churches. Up until now the men of the cloth, while acknowledging and educating about the risks of aids continue to sing the hymns for abstention and monogamy.
That was up until now or yesterday when speaking at the opening of a pastoral conference on AIDS Anglican Bishop the Rt. Rt. Sylvestre Romero-Palma called on the church to do something it has never done before. Bishop Palma said the scourge of the virus has reinforced the need for human beings to preserve faithfulness and permanence in sexual relations as is taught by the church. But in his next breath, the bishop trail-blazed by saying that in the present state of emergency the church should "support those government and medical agencies seeking to prevent the spread of AIDS by making clean needles available to drug users and encouraging the use of condoms." The Bishop qualified his statement by stating that support should be given in way which will make it clear that the church does not condone the practices involved. He also added that the message and ministry of the church is needed to teach acceptance of those affected.
We note that Catholic Bishop the Most Reverend O.P. Martin has publicly opposed the use of condoms. And this is the first time the leader of a major religion has gone on the record in support of condom use. The two day pastoral conference ended this evening at the Radisson.