Condoms have been widely used for many many years  in many countries,  and so widely publicized that their use could be considered part of our present-day culture.  The reason for their use is said to be prevention of pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), particularly HIV/AIDS.  Since the Catholic Church considers the use of condoms to be immoral, that is, against Christian principles, it has investigated all aspects of this culture with diligence. 

One of the first considerations is whether condoms do in fact give complete protection. There have been numerous  studies on outcomes.  It has been found that there is only approximately 85% protection against the deadly HIV virus.  Other STDs have variable levels of protection but nothing approaching l00%. 

The reasons for this vary from defects in the latex materials used, to the faulty application by the user.  Many agencies from various countries are all agreed that there is a significant failure rate which results in the spread of these diseases.  The Church is rightly concerned from all points of view at this state of affairs. 

The information given to the public by health authorities is that the use of condoms is considered to be "safe sex".  This is false because with an acknowledged failure rate of 15%when dealing with a fatal disease, it can hardly be called "safe".  Maybe "safer" is nearer the mark.  It is completely wrong for anyone to encourage promiscuous sex when investigations show the dangers of such behaviour. 

The Church states the necessity of promoting responsible sexual behaviour, limiting sex to marriage, and discouraging promiscuity.  There is a great need to strengthen marriage and family life to create stability.  This will involve education which will hopefully lead to fidelity in marriage. 

Dr. Brian Clowes, in Part II, has much to say on permissive sex with its devastating effects on society in the US.  The promotion of condoms has encouraged pre-marital sex in teenagers.  He examines condom use as a contraceptive, how their enormous promotion has markedly contributed to teenage pregnancy which then leads to abortion - and  STDs  which are now in epidemic proportions.  Many believe in "safe sex" with condoms and their subsequent behaviour has made it impossible to stem the spread of AIDS. 

All this is of particular importance on an international level.   US aid agencies have been promoting  condoms in  many African countries which  has resulted in an increase rather than decrease in AIDS,  particularly transmission from parents to offspring. 

In the face of a world-wide epidemic no country can afford to sit back and be disinterested. We should be especially concerned at the deception used in selling condoms, the lying used to persuade people that it is an effective safe method of disease and birth control. 

The one encouragement in all of this is the demonstration in Uganda that abstinence can work.  There, the HIV infection rate has been cut to low levels. 

This book is an excellent systematic treatise on the world position regarding AIDS and STD control,  and  the failure of the condom culture with suggestions for improvement, plus how the Church views this important area of  LIFE.