Good Catholics Use Condoms

More than 130 people jammed into a room with fewer than 100 seats for the opening of the Catholics for Choice skills-building session, "Good Catholics use Condoms." Throughout the event, representatives from all sides of the debate, priests, advocates, workers with a variety of Catholic charities, policy makers and people living with HIV contributed to lively discussions and fascinating strategy debates during the three-hour-plus session.

Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, set the scene, explaining the history of the Condoms4Life campaign and why the campaign is so vital. Teresa Lanza, from Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir in Bolivia, then outlined the findings of the recent multinational poll on Catholics and condoms, generating much discussion about the findings, as well as the value of polls.

Teresa spoke again in the next session in answering the tough questions on HIV and AIDS, along with María Mejía from Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir in Mexico, Bill Smith from SIECUS and Kevin Osborne from the International Planned Parenthood Federation. They each gave different perspectives on the various questions, again generating stimulating discussion and various different perspectives from an invigorated audience.

María Mejía then outlined the theological underpinnings of the Condoms4Life campaign, drawn from the recently updated pamphlet, "Sex in the HIV/AIDS Era." To view in Spanish, click here. In a thought-provoking interactive session, groups discussed some vital issues related to future strategies, including convincing policymakers that Catholics do not all follow the dictates of the church hierarchy and how to work in changing the teachings of the Vatican and attitudes of the hierarchy. Finally, David Nolan outlined some Communications Commandments, seeking to assist attendees in dealing with the media and other public-speaking opportunities.

A different team will present similar sessions on Wednesday in Spanish.