Catholic condom ban is putting lives at risk, says Blair
Tony Blair today risked a row with the Catholic church after he warned that religious opposition to contraception was hampering the fight against HIV/Aids.
In a message that appeared to be aimed directly at the Vatican, the Prime Minister said it was time churches and religious organisations "faced reality".
Mr Blair, who has attended Mass with his Catholic wife Cherie, said the blanket ban on the use of condoms was putting young people's lives at risk.
"I think if all the churches and religious organisations were facing up to reality, it would be better.
"If we have a sort of blanket ban coming from religious hierarchy saying it's wrong to use contraception], then you discourage people from doing it in circumstances where they need to protect their own lives," he told MTV in an interview to mark World Aids Day.
He spoke out amid speculation that Pope Benedict is preparing to relax the ban in order to help combat Aids.
The Catholic church has been criticised by aid organisations who claim its preaching against birth control has helped the spread of Aids throughout Africa and Asia.
Earlier this year the pontiff ordered the preparation of a report about condom use after some in the church argued that contraception was a "lesser evil" than the sexually transmitted disease.
However, Mr Blair's comments are likely to rile many in the church hierarchy which is sensitive to criticism about its policy towards the developing world.
Six years ago Clare Short, the then international development secretary, said the Church was "stuck and wrong" to oppose birth control. The church replied saying Ms Short's remarks were "unworthy and insulting".
Mr Blair also used his interview to promise the Government would increase the number of condoms being distributed to developing nations.
"We are spending £1.5 billion over the next few years, trying to fight HIV/Aids," he said.
He added: "It's also very important that we work on prevention and we are planning to uplift the amount of condoms that we will be distributing too."
And he talked about how he and his wife had taught the "facts of life" to their children as a couple.
"Of course it makes you feel uncomfortable, but it is stillimportant to do it they might be embarrassed about it, but you learn fairly quickly whether they have mastered the essentials.
"When I was growing up it was more to do with telling youngsters about the actual act of sex. I think now [it] is telling them about the dangers of having unprotected sex," he said.
