The Rev Federico Lombardi says in a statement today that the pope is neither "reforming or changing" the Church's teaching, which forbids use of condoms and other contraceptives.
He is reacting to the Vatican's publication of excerpts of a book about the pope. Benedict says in an interview in the book that in certain cases, such as for a male prostitute, condom use could be a first step toward assuming responsibility.Lombardi is stressing that the church doesn't consider condoms the "moral solution" to the AIDS problem.
Published 21 November 2010, 15:38 IST