Avoiding reality not an opinion By Katie Barry
According to the Center for Disease Control, 1,788 Americans between the age of 20 and 24 will become infected with HIV this year, bringing the number of college-age Americans who have been infected with the disease since its onset to more than 34,000.
In 1968, Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical letter Human Veritae, or Human Life, which reaffirmed the official Church teaching that contraception of any kind is gravely sinful. The Church believes it is intrinsically wrong to actively prevent new human life from coming into existence.
However, in 1968, the world was blissfully ignorant of a retrovirus that would eventually ravish the world, taking over 25 million lives with it. That retrovirus is, of course, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV.
The use of contraceptives has a far greater weight now than it did in 1968. Unprotected sex is one of the leading causes of HIV transmission; using a condom can create a protective barrier that can save your life. Condom use isn’t just about pregnancy anymore.
According to a 2005 report by the Kinsey Institute, by the ages of 20 to 21, 85 percent of males and 81 percent of females will have had sexual intercourse. Simply speaking statistically, students on our campus are having sex. Isn’t it important that the students are at least safe about it?
Following the ideals set forth by Pope Paul VI, Fairfield, as a Jesuit campus, refuses to allow the sale or distribution of condoms on campus. While the University’s religious convictions are commendable, a general concern for the safety of the student body should and must be the primary concern.
Our campus isn’t immune to HIV, numerous other sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy. Instead of pretending like they don’t exist, we should actively try to prevent them.
While I understand that condoms are readily available around campus, it should be taken into consideration that some students, especially freshman, are not particularly mobile. Getting off campus isn’t always as easy as we make it seem. Being able to grab a handful of condoms at the health center just may make the difference between someone using protection and someone not using protection.
And regardless of availability at other locations, our university should take an active role in promoting safe sex. While it may go against the basic teachings of the Catholic Church, it has the benefits of protecting our student body.
What kind of message are we promoting when we refuse to laud the benefits of condoms? Are we promoting abstinence, or are we promoting unsafe sex practices?
In 1983, before a congressional committee investigating the spread of AIDS, activist Roger Lyon stated “this is not a political issue. This is a health issue.” Likewise, the promotion and availability of condoms on campus is not just a religious issue, it is a health issue.
Using a condom could have saved Mr. Lyon’s life. Shouldn’t our university make sure it can save yours?
Insist on abstinence, but safety first By Grant Miller
Should any university be strict about the distribution of birth control? Fairfield was established as a Jesuit university, with Jesuit principles, and those principles should be upheld.
If that means prohibiting the distribution of condoms to students, then that is what it takes to be consistent with the beliefs the school represents.
However, AIDS is a serious disease and awareness of prevention must be spread. By the end of 2006, there will be 1.4 million adults and children living with HIV/AIDS and 18,000 deaths due to HIV/AIDS in North America, according to Global Health Reporting.
Handing out condoms is a way to spread the consciousness of safety because condoms reduce the transmission of HIV by approximately 85 percent when used correctly, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Spreading safety is in full support of the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis, or “care for the whole person” as well as the characteristic of the focused care for students. But that does not give license to provide condoms on campus.
So how can one spread a message of prevention without violating Catholic, specifically Jesuit, doctrine? Promote abstinence.
People might not want to hear it, but the best way to not contract an STD is to not have sex.
Practicing abstinence can prevent pregnancy, the transmission of STD’s and other health risks. Abstinence is also widely endorsed by churches and religious organizations. Furthermore, the emotional and psychological challenges related to sexual relationships are reduced.
As a devout Christian, I am in full support of saving sex for marriage. It would be foolish and na’ve of me to think that everyone is going to support the same view. The only, yet major, drawback is that abstinence requires willpower and discipline.
Abstinence, then, should be promoted, but condoms should be mentioned as well.
It is against the principles and philosophy of the University to hand out condoms on campus, but it is pretty safe to assume that the majority of Fairfield students are mature adults who are fully capable of finding their own birth control.
After all, if one is not capable of ensuring that their sexual activities are done in the safest way possible, then it is safe to say that they have no business indulging in them.
My views are not meant to be judgmental, self-righteous or preachy as I am a student just like the rest of you. I am also an advocate of abstinence and one who intends on spreading a message of faith and safety.
So should condoms be distributed on a private Jesuit campus, with private Jesuit guidelines and principles? The answer is no for the same reason alcohol should not be distributed to minors on campus. If you live in the community, you must be aware of the principles of the community.
It would be similarly ignorant to not acknowledge AIDS, and to not provide as many safe sex alternatives as possible.
The best solution is to promote abstinence, but present condoms as an option, but not one that is accessible on campus. Not everyone is going to practice abstinence. At least this way safety is still promoted.
Leave a Reply