Pope Benedict XVI's words on the use of condoms confirm the Church's teaching on human sexuality. One can never do an evil in order to achieve a good, however small the evil done and however great the good sought.

In some cases, an unwanted evil can be tolerated in order to avoid a greater evil. To act in this way, there must be a proportionate cause (between the evil to be tolerated and the evil to be avoided). In prostitution, given that there is a serious risk of AIDS transmission, and the prostitute is determined to engage in this sexual activity, it is less bad to use a condom than not to use one.

Let me give a simple example to clarify the above. Let's imagine that a person goes to rob a bank, carrying a machine gun. On the way, he shouts: "I'm going to rob the bank; I'll kill anyone who tries to dissuade me! If I were in front of him, I would reply: "If you are going to rob the bank, at least don't kill anyone".

Let's transfer this story to our case. A woman or a man is a prostitute. Undoubtedly, it would be better if they did not do it. But if they are going to do it, they can be advised that, since they are determined to practice it, they should at least protect themselves so as not to infect a third party with a disease.

With all this I want to emphasize that the Pope's words are in no way affirming that the use of condoms is morally licit (good).