Paris, Oct 21: The European Commission has criticised the Vatican for suggesting condoms do not protect users against HIV, saying the assertion had no scientific basis and could worsen the global aids pandemic. "Condoms are part of the solution. The condemnation of condoms is part of the problem," Poul Nielson, European commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, said in a statement sent to a news agency today.

The sharply-worded communique did not mention the holy see or its officials.
But it was clearly aimed at rebutting a senior Roman Catholic cardinal who last week declared the aids virus could slip through condoms because of their "permeability". "I rely on statements that are based on sound scientific evidence -- and we can demonstrate that condoms are the best way to prevent HIV infection," the statement quoted European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin as saying.

The European Union's executive arm pointed to "extensive proof" that condoms protected against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) if used correctly.

The rebuttal is the latest in a series of angry responses by health campaigners to remarks made by Colombian Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, who said last week that condoms were unsafe, supposedly because the virus could sneak through pores in the rubber sheath. Bureau Report