The advertisements, bearing the message "Banning Condoms Kills", are part of
a campaign dubbed "Condoms Life" organised by Catholics for a Free Choice
(CFFC), an advocacy organisation of Catholics who are opposed to the
Vatican's stand on condoms.
They will also place the billboards in prominent locations in the town with
the message "Catholic People Care - Do our Bishops?"
Frances Kissling, CFFC's president, said that this unprecedented world-wide
public education effort is aimed at Catholics and non Catholics alike to
raise awareness about the devastating
effects of the ban on condoms. "The Vatican and the bishops bear significant
responsibility for the deaths of thousands of people who have died from
Aids," Kissling said.
Mr Peter Piot, United Nation's Aids (UNAIDS) director observed that the
church's stand against contraception was a serious mistake, "We are not
asking the church to promote the use of contraceptives but merely to stop
banning its use," Piot said.
Other countries targeted in the campaign include Brussels, Cape Town,
Harare, La Paz Santiago, Mexico City and Manila which have large Catholic
populations. The initial phase of the Condoms Life campaign stared in
November in Washington DC.

SOURCE: East African Standard, 27 December 2001