LEADER of the world’s largest religious body, Pope Benedict XVI’s recent comments about the use of condoms have been grossly misinterpreted. There has been major misanalysis by the media all around the world. As a result, many organisations, media entities and even governments have praised the pope, before taking into considerations his response in a holistic manner. For example, Al Jazeera’s headline on November 20, read “Pope softens stand on condoms”. 
The Catholic Church’s view on condoms still stands. Nothing much has changed about the use, stance or views on condoms stated in the Catholic Catechism. It is not permissible. The words that have sent shockwaves to all corners of the globe, while varied forms of interpretations have been given by commentators in the media are, “There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralisation, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants. But it is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection.” He went on to clarify that [male prostitutes using condoms] is a pure intention to reduce the spread of HIV infections and that it is a first step in a movement towards “a more human way, of living sexuality.”
The pope was speaking within the context of condom use and male prostitutes and the moral impact that those actions carry. Benedict XVI is a religious scholar. Perhaps the world did not understand his deep and rich theological statements (as he often makes from time to time).
The Pope did not approve of condoms, not in the sense much of the media and world think. Perhaps his comments might have been construed differently had he changed some of the texts. Condoms, as a birth control method, are prohibited for use as they were before the Pope made that speech.