The problem with that, Java, is by the time condoms came in to wide use, and by the time HIV-AIDS became a huge problem, the ATR (African Traditional Religion) has lost a lot of influence.

South Africa is not a Catholic country, but the RCC has gained a lot of ground the last few decades.

Now, this, as you can imagine, is a huge issue here. I worked for the Counsel of Churches in Namibia on their HIV campaign, and this as a big problem for us. Luckily the Bishop of Namibia was a very open minded person, who 'looked the other way' many times so we can just get on with the job.

It is also not only the RCC which is the problem. Many of the conservative CAlvinist churches have the same views. There is a well known university in SA, a faith based university, where condoms in public places are banned because it will lead to sex amongst students!!!!!

But back to topic. This issue led to a huge fight between the esteemed Anglican ArchbishopDesmond Tutu, and his RCC counterparts here in SA.

It certainly is not the root of the problem, but it defnitly is standing in the way of solving the problem!

AH

PS. A lot of AIDS aid from the US is subject to the NGO's not proclaiming condoms as a view to prevent it. So it is not only the government of the Vatican, but also Washington that has this view

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“The subject no longer has to be mentioned by name. Someone is sick. Someone else is feeling better now. A friend has just gone back into the hospital. Another has died. The unspoken name, of course, is AIDS.”
“From the point of view of the pharmaceutical industry, the AIDS problem has already been solved. After all, we already have a drug which can be sold at the incredible price of $8, 000 an annual dose, and which has the added virtue of not diminishing the market by actually curing anyone.”