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Pope deemed “immoral”
Lutheran bishop cites opposition to condoms
A Lutheran prelate who is a member of the Nobel Peace Prize committee has sharply criticized Pope John Paul II for his defense of the Catholic Church’s teaching on the immorality of condom use.
Lutheran Bishop Gunnar Staalseth said all religious groups should accept condoms as a way to combat AIDS rather than rely on the teaching of the morality of abstinence. “I challenge the Vatican to redefine its attitude to condoms,” he told reporters after meeting UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who was on a two-day visit to Oslo. “The current Roman Catholic theology is one that favors death rather than life.”
“Religious leaders must be outspoken,” he said. “Condom use should be tolerated as a way to stop the spread of AIDS.” Some observers quickly noted that the unusually harsh statement by a member of the Nobel committee seemed to indicate that Pope John Paul—who has been nominated repeatedly for the Peace Prize—has little chance of winning the award.
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