Use Of Condoms Sometimes OK to stop AIDS: Pope

 Using condoms may sometimes be justified to stop the spread of AIDS, Pope Benedict says in a new book, in a major shift that relaxes one of the Vatican's most controversial positions on their use to combat the disease, according to the following article. The pope's words in the book to be published on Tuesday -- while limited in scope and which do not change the Catholic ban on contraception -- were nonetheless greeted as abreakthrough by dissident Catholics, AIDS workers and commentators. It appears to open the door just a crack to a potential change in Church policy.
      .  .  .  June

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Condoms sometimes permissible to stop AIDS: Pope
Top News | Reuters:

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Using condoms may sometimes be justified to stop the spread of AIDS, Pope Benedict says in a new book, in a major shift that relaxes one of the Vatican's most controversial positions on their use to combat the disease.

The pope's words in the book to be published on Tuesday -- while limited in scope and which do not change the Catholic ban on contraception -- were nonetheless greeted as abreakthrough by dissident Catholics, AIDS workers and commentators.



"It is a marvelous victory for common sense and reason, a major step forward toward recognizing that condom use can play a vital role in reducing the future impact of the HIV pandemic, said Jon O'Brien, head of the U.S. group Catholics for Choice.



In the 219-page book, "Light of the World," the pope also speaks frankly about the possibility that he could resign for health reasons and defends wartime pontiff Pius XII against Jewish accusations that he turned a blind eye to the Holocaust.


He says scandals of sexual abuse of minors by priests. were "an unprecedented shock," even though he had followed the issue for years, and says he can understand why people might quit the Church in protest.


But it is the section on condoms in the book -- a long interview with German Catholic journalist Peter Seewald -- that marked a crack in the once tightly shut door of Church policy.


He cites the example of the use of condoms by prostitutes as "a first step toward moralization," even though condoms are "not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection."


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Pope Still Voices Trust In Vatican Bank Director

 According to the article below, Pope Benedict XVI personally told the director of the Vatican Bank that he trusted him and appreciates the work he is doing after Italian authorities launched a money-laundering investigation into the bank. Italian prosecutors froze Vatican Bank transactions last week after the bank failed to provide all the information required by anti-money laundering rules. Tedeschi claims it was due to a misunderstanding.
    . . . June

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Pope voices trust in Vatican Bank head after probe
CNN.comSeptember 27, 2010 -- Updated 1349 GMT (2149 HKT):

Rome, Italy (CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI personally told the director of the Vatican Bank that he trusted him and appreciates the work he is doing, the Vatican said Monday, after Italian authorities launched a money-laundering investigation into the bank.

Ettore Tedeschi, the bank head, was among the faithful meeting Benedict Sunday after the pope's weekly Angelus address.

Tedeschi kissed the pope's hand and gave him a copy of his book 'Money and Paradise,' and they exchanged a few words, the Vatican said.

Italian prosecutors last week froze Vatican Bank transactions for the first time ever, after the bank failed to provide all the information required by anti-money laundering rules.

Tedeschi told CNN last week he was incredulous and "humiliated" when he learned Italian investigators were looking into money-laundering allegations against the bank.
 
He said the probe was the result of a "misunderstanding."

Italian authorities informed the Vatican Bank about the probe on Tuesday, prosecutor Nello Rossi told CNN.
Prosecutors seized 23 million euros (about $30 million) in Vatican Bank transactions "as a cautionary measure" on Monday, he said.

"My first reaction was of incredulity and afterwards, that of feeling humiliated in the intense work that, along with (bank) Director-General (Paolo) Cipriani and all of the institute's managers, I've been carrying out," Tedeschi told CNN by e-mail Friday.

"After discussing with Dr. Cipriani the actions that spurred the inquiry, I was relieved, and I've realized that we had to immediately take action in explaining the facts to various levels and places," he said.

Tedeschi said he also realized the need to speed up the process of getting the Vatican Bank on the "white list" of banks that comply with internationally agreed standards, "to prevent other misunderstanding events like the one that just happened."

This is not the first time Italian prosecutors have investigated the bank, but probes are extremely rare, Rossi said.

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