Devout Catholics, like almost everyone else, favor efforts to minimize the need for abortion; eliminating unwanted pregnancies offers the most direct route toward that goal. One assumes that they also support the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, gonorrhea and chlamydia, among others.
Nevertheless, officials at Boston College, a Catholic institution, oppose a student program to improve access to condoms on campus. Apparently convinced that this project will shed a negative light on their University and encourage premarital sex, they announced their intention to shut down the program; they softened their position by citing the availability of condoms at retail stores or through public health services.
This antiquated stance, surely taken to appease older alumni and donors, is just the latest attempt by conservative religious organizations to deny the nature of human sexuality. Whether they admit it or not, sexual activity is widespread among college students, including those at Catholic institutions. Improving access to condoms does not encourage sexual activity; rather, it serves to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and abortion. Though it has long been squeamish about dealing with human sexuality, including its own sexual scandals, one hopes that the Church will soon emerge from its state of denial and join the preventive healthcare movement.
