The Iowa State Daily’s Oct. 15 editorial, “Truth on sexual protection needed,” argued the Catholic Church hinders HIV/AIDS prevention because of its zero-tolerance policy.

To say the Church’s promotion of abstinence and faithful marriage is comparable to the Church’s assumption of the geocentric theory before Copernicus’ discovery is blatantly outrageous.

Catholics believe the teaching authority of the Church cannot err in matters of faith and morals. Scientific premonitions do not fall in this category, but human sexuality obviously does.

The Church recognizes contraception and other deviations from monogamous, lifetime, unimpeded self-giving in marriage violates the respect and total commitment deserved between married partners.

One must also recognize the effectiveness of Catholic-promoted abstinence-based HIV/AIDS protection programs.

According to Sarah Trafford of the Culture and Family Institute, Uganda experienced a drop in HIV infection rates from 30 percent to five percent between 1992 and 2000. Part of Uganda’s success can be attributed to the “True Love Waits” program launched in 1994 to help youth understand the value of marriage and abstinence as a prevention for transmission of sexual disease.

Overall, HIV/AIDS infection rates remain steady or increase especially in Africa, with the exception of Uganda. The Family Research Council reinforces this point showing that condom usage rates in Uganda are as high as those in neighboring Kenya, Malawi and Zambia. Therefore, according to the report, “abstinence until marriage” programs make the difference for Uganda’s efforts in thwarting AIDS. The bottom line is that abstinence can be the only surefire way to prevent the spread of HIV and other horrible STDs. Practicing abstinence takes discipline, courage and a society that is willing to embody these values.

Pope Pius XI, in his 1930 encyclical Casti Connubii, predicted divorce and abortion from the use of contraceptives. What more can the world do to curb these disease epidemics when it has turned away from the guidance of old?

Dan Rajewski

Junior

Meteorology