SA Religious Groups and abstinence

South Africa's `Business Day' reported on 22 February 2005 that "RELIGIOUS groups dug in their heels yesterday, saying they would not “actively promote” the use of condoms, but instead would focus on encouraging sexual abstinence and faithfulness to one’s partner."

The religious groups say their position to promote abstinence over condoms is an attempt to underscore their mandate as custodians of SA’s moral fibre.

Most, however, promised Health Minister Manto Tshabalala- Msimang they would not undermine her campaign of encouraging the use of condoms.

In a meeting with Tshabalala-Msimang in Johannesburg yesterday, the chairman of the Religious Leaders Forum, Ashwin Trikamjee, said the health department would continue to provide condoms to those choosing that option.

Trikamjee said religious leaders had expressed the strong view that there should be a greater emphasis on “abstinence and faithfulness”. However, they would not speak ill of, or discourage, those seeking advice from church leaders about the use of condoms.

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference said people should know that condoms were not necessarily as safe as they were purported to be. Churches therefore needed to give moral guidance by urging the youth in particular to lead a safe lifestyle.

Tshabalala-Msimang said that the discussions proved that the department would be able to co- operate with faith-based organisations in improving health conditions through the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

“We have an understanding that prevention remains critical in the absence of a cure for HIV and AIDS. There is a need to encourage particularly young people to abstain from sex and those who are involved in sexual relationship to be faithful to one partner.”

The minister said that church institutions would assist the department in addressing the challenge of “gender inequality and infidelity” within marriages.

While the department strongly supported the call to emphasise “abstinence and faithfulness” in government campaigns on HIV/AIDS prevention, it acknowledged that there were many people who still engaged in practices that exposed them to sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. As a result, condom use was essential. “The use of condoms is a choice that people should know they have,” she said.

The minister rejected comments that Statistics SA (Stats SA) figures on causes of death, released last week, signalled the failure of the strategy of supplying and distributing antiretroviral drugs.

She said the strategy was implemented after the period under review and had no bearing on the Stats SA report on mortality.

Source: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A21457