AIDS: wyzwanie moralne dla człowieka i całej rodziny ludzkiej

Abstract

Having presented the medical (the specific character of HIV virus and AIDS) and social (social groups of higher risk, the current state of the development of infection) contexts, the author concentrates on the possibilities to prevent HIV infection. As there are no appropriate medical means, a common opinion dominates that the only protective measure is to use condoms. The Catholic Church does not agree with it. The Church stresses this measure damages the personal dignity of man and humiliates him. The protest of the Church is at the same time based on the unreliability of this measure (13-15%). The author quotes abundant medical literature. Furthermore, the condom is disqualified by its influence on sexual behaviour. It is propagated as a means designed to protect against HIV. thereby creating a kind of mentality that condones with the development of infection. People start to belittle the risk of infection, lose their vigilance, and, eventually, forget about the virus itself. They cease to avoid dangerous behaviour, do take the risk of infection seriously, do notice they are infected, and infect other people. The Catholic Church stresses that the proper manner to overcome the danger of HIV today is to give up sexual contacts in the pre-marital period, mutual loyalty of the spouses living in an exclusive and permanent relationship. This position is confirmed by the most recent reports on the success of fighting HIV/AIDS in Uganda (studies by Edward C. Green, Rand Stoneburner, and Daniel Low-Beer).