Vatican blames AIDS on "immunodeficiency of moral values"

The Vatican on Tuesday blamed the global AIDS pandemic on an "immunodeficiency of moral and spiritual values." Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, who heads the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, further labeled AIDS as a "pathology of the spirit" that should be fought with "correct sexual practice" and "education of sacred values." The Vatican also reiterated its opposition to condom use and again claimed scientific data proves condoms don't protect against HIV infection. The statement from the Vatican also said global AIDS efforts should focus on education, providing low-cost antiretroviral drugs to developing countries, and the elimination of stigma and discrimination of people with AIDS.