The Associated Press website reports today (November 20, 2010) that Pope Benedict XVI says in a new book that condoms can be justified for male prostitutes seeking to stop the spread of HIV -- a stunning comment for a church criticized for its opposition to condoms and for a pontiff who has blamed them for making the AIDS crisis worse.
The pope made the comments in a book-length interview with a German journalist, "Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times," which is being released on November 23. The Vatican newspaper ran excerpts of the book today.
Catholic Church teaching has long opposed condoms, because they are a form of artificial contraception, which is forbidden by the Church.
Benedict said that condoms are not a moral solution. But he said in some cases -- such as for male prostitutes -- they could be justified "in the intention of reducing the risk of infection."
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