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The Vatican said Thursday that it will host an international conference for Roman Catholic health care providers who work with people who have or are at risk for HIV/AIDS. The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers also said it is working on a set of guidelines regarding HIV prevention and care. The head of UNAIDS and other prominent AIDS researchers have been invited to the May 28 conference. Last November, Pope Benedict XVI made headlines when he was quoted in an interview saying that someone who uses a condom to prevent HIV transmission could be considered, in regarding their partner's welfare, as on a path toward a more ethical sexuality. Benedict's comments marked the first time a pope had acknowledged condoms could prevent HIV. However, the Vatican later issued three clarifications, in part to deny the pope had broken with doctrine opposing condoms used as a contraceptive.
"There is a problem of comprehension, of explaining things well and what the pope really said," said Monsignor Jean-Marie Mpendawatu Mate Musivi, the council's undersecretary. In addition to advocating abstinence and monogamous marriage, the church position on how best to fight HIV also focuses on programming at the school, community, and family levels, Mate Musivi said.
The executive director of UNAIDS cannot commit to attending the conference at this point, said Edward Mishaud, an agency spokesperson.
Mate Musivi said the guidelines will take into account conferee suggestions, adding that he does not know when a document would be released. "The church has to let this mature, it must digest and reflect on this," he said.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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