By Ranjan Bhaduri
Rome, Mar 13, (THAINDIAN NEWS) A high school in Rome has drawn flak from the Catholic Church for installing condom-vending machines meant for the students in its premises. The Church has come down heavily on the school and said in its statement that such a move will only motivate students to have sex frequently. However, the Keplero high school has not changed its decision to install six condom vending machines after facing the criticism. It has said in its part that the move is aimed to stop the spread of AIDs and other sexually transmitted infections among students. The Vatican has always been at loggerheads with sexual education reformists who preach the use of condoms.

Pope Benedict XVI also faced severe criticism when he refused to admit that condom is effective in preventing the spread of AIDS in Africa. The school will not only install those condom vending machines in the bathrooms of its students but it will also hire a regional anti-AIDS organization to train students about the various aspects of safe sex behavior. The mover to install these machines got passed without any resistance by the council of the school. Antonio Panaccione, who is the school’s headmaster, refuted the claim of the church that it will lead the students to indulge in sex more than usual.

The importance of imparting sex education in schools has always been a topic of debate in European countries. The Catholic Church has always objected to use of condom and contraceptives. However, the step taken by the school corroborates the fact that winds of change are blowing even in the so-called conservative nations.