Guest post by Mark Silk, who is filling in for Steven Waldman.
Steve has noted that Rick Warren is not on board with Pope Benedict’s recent statement to the effect that AIDS “is a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, and that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems.” Not surprisingly, the Catholic League’s Bill Donohue, is on board:

Anyone who thinks that condom distribution, education and/or research is going to solve a problem which is mostly a function of behavioral recklessness is positively clueless. Not only that, such persons unwittingly contribute to the problem by diverting attention and resources away from that which works.

For a review of the situation in Africa, based on medical reports from the field, see here. The point is that the effectiveness of condoms in preventing AIDS is an empirical question.
The pope and his minions are entitled to oppose condom use on moral and/or theological grounds. What they’re not entitled to do is twist the evidence to suit their morality and theology. And if, according to the best evidence, it turns out that condom distribution can indeed reduce HIV infection, then the stand-up thing for them to say is: “Yes, the distribution of condoms does help prevent AIDS in this fallen world. Nevertheless, we oppose it as encouraging immoral behavior and violation of natural law. We believe that the way to solve the AIDS crisis is for people to engage in sex only within marriage, and for married couples in which one of the partners is infected with AIDS to remain celibate.” To do otherwise would be dishonest.
Check out Mark Silk’s blog, Spiritual Politics.