What precisely is CAFOD's view of condoms?

From Mr Eric Hester
Sir, In reply to my article (1 March) quoting CAFOD on the use of condoms, Bishop Rawsthorne (March 22) says I mislead but he does not show how. In fact, his lordship does not answer any of my points. He ignores most of what I wrote. For example, I quoted CAFOD calling the Church's teaching of abstinence before marriage and fidelity within it an "ideal" and demonstrated how this has been condemned by the Holy Father himself, who in Veritatis Splendor calls it a "serious error". I quoted directly from the CAFOD website and its own "consultant theologian", Fr Enda McDonagh, the following: "It may be socially necessary and morally legitimate to accept the use of condoms."
His lordship says CAFOD "does not fund the supply, distribution or promotion of condoms". I quote just one example from CAFOD's website: "A CAFOD partner programme, Cambodian HIV Education and Care, contributed to a special HIV/AIDS campaign before and
during the water festival Tshirts, caps, posters, condoms and leaflets were distributed during the campaign."
The website is riddled with material that does not reflect Catholic teaching. CAFOD speaks enthusiastically of the "Men as Partners" project being conducted by the IPPF, an association described by SPUC as "the world's largest non-government organisation promoting abortion and population control. They promote information about such methods for children as young as 10 years".
Worst of all is that CAFOD has inserted into its website, without a trace of disapproval, what is clearly an incitement to child sex abuse. It publishes this in a section which writes about condoms: "But condoms usually break because they are incorrectly used and simple educational measures could remedy this. Teaching young men to masturbate using condoms, for example, although difficult in some cultures, would probably encourage use with the onset of sexual activity." (under "gender Men and HIV PANOS") This is a clear infringement of the Nolan rules and I ask the relevant ecclesiastical authority, to investigate it. Any teacher in a Catholic school who advocated such "teaching" would be dismissed immediately.
Some will say I should have written to CAFOD privately. Last year, I wrote to CAFOD at the highest level, asking it at least to take offending material off the website while it was examined. CAFOD will not budge.
Mrs Harding (letter, April 5) does not quote any evidence but vaguely says that I am wrong. She accuses me, and indeed, The Catholic Herald, of being "negative". This is to'stand truth on its head. I am very positive about the Church's teaching and about support for poor countries in line with what the Holy Father says. It is those who dissent from the Church's teaching and encourage perverted practices who are "negative". Those shocked by what I reveal have only to go to the CAFOD site to see the truth (www.cafod.org.uk/hivaids). I urge readers to give generously to charities, including CAFOD, but it would be prudent to write that all donations must be used only for projects completely in line with the teachings of the Church.
Yours faithfully, ERIC HESTER Bolton, BL1 5HS