The Vatican recently announced it would not permit Brazilian pop singer, Daniela Mercury, to perform in a special Christmas presentation in Italy because she is an advocate of the use of condoms.
Now, Brazil’s Minister of Health, Saraiva Felipe, and the Minister-Head of the Special Secretariat for Women Policies, Nilcéa Freire, have come out publicly in favor of the presence of Daniela Mercury in the show.
Minister Felipe declared that the opposition to condoms "comes from isolated sectors" of the Catholic Church.
Minister Freire said that campaigns stimulating the use of condoms were an obligation of the government.
"The government has to furnish people with information and the means to protect themselves from AIDS/HIV. People’s religious beliefs are a personal matter," she said.
"Maybe the Vatican does not want Daniela Mercury in their show, but we certainly want her to continue participating in our AIDS/HIV campaigns here in Brazil by getting people to use condoms."
Agência Brasil
