TI   "Philippine Church Leader Condemns Use of Condoms"
 AU   Branigin, William
 SO   Reuters (12/27/93)
 AB   Manila, Philippines--The most influential religious official in the
      Philippines declared on Monday that health authorities who promote
      contraception are evil and that young people ought not to believe
      that condoms can prevent transmission of the AIDS virus. Through
      sterilization and contraception, the "Evil One" hopes to prevent God
      from creating new life, declared Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Roman
      Catholic archbishop of Manila.  "Do not be deceived by those who say
      that sexually transmitted diseases can be stopped by external devices
      and gadgets," his message warned.  "Man-made devices are bound to
      fail.  Only a small number of failures is required for the AIDS virus
      to spread rapidly."  While the archbishop declined to name any
      specific official, the church has in the past attacked Health
      Secretary Juan Flavier for his advocacy of condom use to stem the
      spread of AIDS in the Philippines.  Some 500 Filipinos are registered
      in the health department with an HIV-positive diagnosis, but Flavier
      challenges that the true number of infections is closer to 50,000.

      Copyright (c) 1993 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD.  This
      information is provided by the Centers for Disease Control &
      Prevention (CDC), National AIDS Clearinghouse as a public service. 
      Non-profit reproduction is encouraged.

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