Taiwan Removes HIV/AIDS Prevention Ad Featuring Nun Promoting Condom Use After Criticism From Roman Catholics
Taiwan has withdrawn an HIV/AIDS prevention campaign advertisement that features a nun promoting condom use after the poster provoked criticism from Roman Catholics, local media said on Wednesday, Reuters UK reports. The poster -- which was hung on condom machines in Taipei hospitals, subway stations and other locations -- showed a smiling nun holding a condom with both hands, saying, "Although I don't need one, even I know" (Reuters UK, 8/24). "We think it's inappropriate to use religious figures in the advertisement," a spokesperson for an association representing nuns said, adding, "It is bad for the image of the Catholic Church." The Taipei Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Center -- which commissioned the poster -- apologized, removed the posters, and destroyed the posters and digital files used to create the ad (Agence France-Presse, 8/24).
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.