EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/220

(2004/C 84 E/0264)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3114/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Council

(22 October 2003)

Subject: Spreading of false scientific claims regarding the effectiveness of condoms in combating AIDS by Catholic Church leaders/the Holy See/the Vatican City State

Knowing that:

— on 10 October 2003 the British daily newspaper The Guardian' published an article entitled ‘We have faith in condoms’ stating that Catholic Church leaders/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State are warning against using condoms to prevent AIDS, claiming that the HIV virus can pass through the thick mesh of rubber in condoms, hence making them useless for protection;

— the article announced that the BBC's Panorama programme, due to be televised the following Sunday, would broadcast an interview with the president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, who told British journalists ‘The Aids virus is roughly 450 times smaller than a spermatozoon’ and can therefore easily pass through the ‘net’ that is formed by the condom … ‘These margins of uncertainty should represent an obligation on the part of the health ministries and all these campaigns to act in the same way as they do with regard to cigarettes, which they state to be a danger’;

— in response to these statements the World Health Organisation said ‘These incorrect statements about condoms and HIV are dangerous when we are facing a global pandemic which has already killed more than 20 million people, and currently affects at least 42 million …’;

— the anti-condom campaign by the Catholic Church/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State is being conducted in particular in third-world countries devastated by AIDS, where it has substantial power over the distribution of medicine and health-care supplies and where the campaign is likely to have catastrophic effects.

In view of the European Union's institutional and diplomatic relations with the Holy See,

can the Council say:

— whether it considers that the statements made by leaders of the Catholic Church/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State regarding condoms are correct according to the scientific information it has as its disposal;

— what measures in the form of information, prevention, sanctions and diplomatic moves it intends to promote in response to these claims and in order to oppose the irresponsible campaign by the Catholic Church/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State, which threatens to nullify the European and international policies to combat the spread of AIDS, the deaths caused by it and other sexually transmitted diseases in Europe and worldwide;

— whether it considers that there is an urgent need to revise Article 51 of the draft European Constitution in order to ensure that ‘recognising their identity and their specific contribution’ does not entail having to accept as ‘scientific’ statements dictated by prejudice?

Reply

(9 March 2004)

It is not for the Council to comment on statements appearing in the press. Within the framework of its powers, the Union attaches great importance to the prevention of diseases such as AIDS, in particular in the context of its development policy.

With regard to revision of Article 51 of the draft Constitution, the Council would advise the Honourable Member to address his question directly to the relevant bodies.