For Immediate Release 23 November 2010 Media Contact: David J. Nolan +1 202 986 6093 Pope's Clarification Reveals Significance of Condom Statement Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, issued the following statement on the most recent news from the Vatican on condom use. "The Vatican's acknowledgement that Pope Benedict's acceptance of condom use to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections relates to everybody shows how significant the pope's comments are. "This morning, the Vatican's spokesperson, Rev. Federico Lombardi, said: I personally asked the pope if there was a serious, important problem in the choice of the masculine over the feminine. He told me no. The problem is this ... It's the first step of taking responsibility, of taking into consideration the risk of the life of another with whom you have a relationship. This is if you're a woman, a man, or a transsexual. We're at the same point. "Conservatives...

PRESS STATEMENT GENEVA, 20 November 2010—UNAIDS welcomes the reported statement of Pope Benedict XVI calling for “a humane way of living sexuality” and that the use of condoms are justified “in the intention of reducing the risk of HIV infection”. “This is a significant and positive step forward taken by the Vatican today,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “This move recognizes that responsible sexual behaviour and the use of condoms have important roles in HIV prevention.” UNAIDS has worked closely with the Vatican. In 2009, Mr Sidibé held far-reaching discussions with Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski on HIV prevention issues, including the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, protecting young people and reducing sexual violence against women and girls. “This will help accelerate the HIV prevention revolution, in promoting evidence-informed and human rights-based approaches to achieve universal access goals towards HIV prevention, treatment, care and support,” said Mr S...