Why would a church lie to its congregation about condoms?

HIV/AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in Africa. A 2003 UN document states that 37.3% of people aged 15-49 in Botswana are HIV positive. There have been a number of news articles talking about African churches, whose leaders tell their congregations that the use of condoms causes, rather than prevents, the transmission of the HIV virus which causes AIDS. Some even spread conspiracy theories about condom manufacturers actually producing condoms that are contaminated with the virus. A Catholic archbishop in Mozambique is guilty of spreading this obvious, damaging lie. These churches seem to be doing little or nothing to counteract the widespread belief in some African countries that raping a virgin cures AIDS. They are obviously lying to people about a matter of life and death. Why would Christians do such an evil thing? Why would Christian leaders lie to their congregation?

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽What can I say? The deceptions of the devil abound.

1Pet. 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pet. 5:9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

God bless.

Not all churches are alike. I don't know why this church lied but it doesn't express my viewpoint. Maybe there is a political agenda behind this?

Not all Christians are like this...

The eradication of Africans is on the agenda? Just a guess.

Do you have any links or proof that what you're asking about is actually going on?

They live a lie,so why not spread a few.

Because churches should teach abstinence instead. Abstinence (sex only in marriage, and not outside of it) is better than condoms.

That is a sign of a corrupt, false Church - a Church which lies to its congregation about facts.

Archbishops who say such a thing are godless and immoral.

Christianity teaches that sexual immorality is wrong. Why would they even need to discuss condoms?

I have never heard this story, but it could be ignorance, not deliberate deception. Many africans have little if any formal education. Perhaps this man is misinformed?

Edit: Thanks for sending me the article about this. It proved my point though. The bishop actually thinks (wrongly) that he is right. He is not trying to lie. He really believes the things he is preaching.

Well - it depends on the condom. It depends on what it is made of.

They shouldn't lie about it, but their job is to teach abstinence - not abstinence but just in case use a condom.

I think true AIDS education needs to come from people who can speak honestly and forthright about AIDS/HIV transmission and that there IS NOT A CURE. That it is a death sentance - and if you rape someone to get 'cured' you are a rapist AND a murderer.

It is wrong for the clergy to lie - if they are asked, then they need to be honest.

Because the Church is inherently evil. Time and factual recorded history show this.
The agenda all churches have is to control you, control your money and dominate your life.
By not promoting the condoms the churches following gets bigger. A few more dead people to them means nothing as long as they maintain control.

It is not a lie---the HIV virus slips right through a condom and people use them thinking they are safe when they are not---that is how it is spread---the people who speak against the Catholic Church with this are the very same people who do not want them to kill mosquitoes in South America because of the amount of Malaria deaths there are--- they figure it is a great way to control the population and that is what they are into---population control---not disease control

cause christans are a lie so y not spread them

*Is Catholic*

Condoms do cause the spread of AIDS. That is a fact. The usage and purpose of a condom is to promote multiple partners and a (false) feeling of security. A Condom between a married woman and a married man is not needed for, when properly educated about sex, they will not have sex if they don't want children.

Condoms promote pre-marital sex -- the most common by a vast % of the means of getting AIDS. Condoms do not prevent STDs and as they encourage sex they promote the transference of STDs, including AIDS.

In order to stop the spread of AIDS, one must stop the incentives to have pre-marital sex, one of which is the condom.

The Church preaches against the condom not primarily because it spreads AIDS, but because it diminishes the dignity of the man and the woman as well as it diminishes the meaning and dignity of sex.