Condom on the brain

These days Benedict XVI is courting more controversy than Morrissey. But his views on rubber johnnies didn't go down well.

Ratzinger strikes again. On his official visit to Cameroon, the Pope blasted the use of condoms arguing that they're not the way to fight HIV/AIDS. "Handing out condoms will only increase problems", he said, adding that: "abstinence is the best way to prevent the spread of the disease". The irony of that statement followed by his criticism of the "growing influence of superstitious forms of religion" was too much to escape.

With 22 million AIDS patients in sub-Saharian Africa (according to 2007 UN figures), Ratzinger is behaving more irresponsibly than a randy teenager incapable to keep his knob at bay. Sexual health advice from an aged celibate virgin? At your peril.