Bishop criticises Broome Shire condom plan
Broome Shire Council lacks the moral authority to introduce free condoms around the local township, according to the Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders.
The Record report that Bishop Saunders was reacting to a Sydney Morning Herald report that Broome councillors are considering a plan to create five "condom trees" as a health project to combat sexually transmitted disease, Bishop Saunders spoke caustically.
"I don't think it's the business of councils to get involved in this sort of thing," he told the paper. "They don't have the expertise to get involved in moral health matters.
"They should be looking after the footpaths and drains."
Bishop Saunders dismissed the thinking behind the "condom tree" proposal as "a pathetic attempt at being relevant."
According to the Sydney Morning Herald report, the "condom trees" proposal is to instal a series of plastic pipes filled with condoms and placed in public places where young people gather.
The condoms would then be available to be taken by young people, as a free gift from the Council.
The Broome Shire President was reported by the Sydney newspaper arguing that 48% of Western Australia's sexually transmitted infection occurs in the Kimberley, which has two% of the state's population.
The proposal for "condom trees" has been brought before Broome Council by the Kimberley Public Health Unit and Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service.
Bishop Saunders dismissed the proposal as "political gimmickry," and said if the Council is serious about tackling the problem of sexually transmitted disease, it should consider broader issues.
"They'd be better off being concerned about the permanency of relationships, rather than becoming instruments of permissiveness,"
SOURCE
Bishop criticises Broome Shire condom plan (The Record 9/2/06)
LINKS (not necessarily endorsed by Church Resources)
Catholic Diocese of Broome
'Condom trees' plan for WA town (Sydney Morning Herald 7/2/06)
10 Feb 2006
Broome to trial 'condom-trees' as safe-sex initiative (SOURCE ABC NEWS)
Thursday, 9 February 2006. 20:30 (AEDT)Thursday, 9 February 2006. 19:30 (ACST)Thursday, 9 February 2006. 19:30 (AEST)Thursday, 9 February 2006. 20:30 (ACDT)Thursday, 9 February 2006. 17:30 (AWST)
A safe-sex initiative in Broome, Western Australia, which involves providing condoms from canisters hung in trees, has been approved for a six-month trial period.
The Broome Shire met today and voted to set up the "condom trees".
Shire president Graeme Campbell says the council agreed to the trial because of the very high rate of sexually transmitted infections in the Kimberley.
Mr Campbell says the shire will use the trial period to determine the effectiveness of the "condom trees".
"Based on a report that will be given to us by the end of the trial period after the fifth month, we'll meet again and decide whether we wish to continue with the program or not," he said.