By Madhuri Dey
Rome, Mar 12, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The Vatican has strongly criticized the decision of a high school in Rome to install condom vending machines in its premises. The Keplero High School has declared that it would be installing six of these machines in the compound, incurring the wrath of the Vatican. According to the authorities of the school, the installation of the condom vending machines has been implemented with the aim of spreading awareness among the students about indulging in safe sex and the probability and problems of contracting HIV/AIDS. However, the plan in still in the rudimentary stage, and only one of these machines has been put up.

However, the move has not been taken kindly by the Vatican, which is known for its disapproval of using artificial protection, and which stresses more on abstinence and fidelity as the solution to the growing problem that the United States and the world faces regarding venereal diseases. The vicar for the Pope in Rome, Cardinal Agostino Vallini, condemned the measure taken by the Keplero High School as one that merely treats sex in a flippant fashion, instead of deeming it to be a practical measure.

The newspaper for the bishops in Italy also denounced the measure, saying that it reduced the act to no more than another form of physical activity. The headmaster of the school, however, rubbishes all the claims and criticisms of the Vatican, believing firmly that the step is a necessary and practical one. He further made some controversial comments, saying that what really scandalized the Church was the fact that the word ’sex’ is being treated normally so near the Vatican.