‘Safe Sex’ or Abstinence in AIDS Age?

Msgr. Michael A. Harris degrades human love in his article about condoms and sexual relationships (“When Children Look to Us, Offer Them Faith in Themselves,” Commentary, Dec. 1).

He compares sex among adolescents with drugs, alcohol, gangs, violence and promiscuity. His comparisons dishonor God’s gift of intimacy. Teen sex may be “junk” love, but it’s far better than no human love at all.

Harris says “safe sex” among adolescents should be a contradiction in terms. Apparently he thinks no single or married teen-ager should use condoms. His sex rules seem less healthy and more complicated than no adultery, no coveting another’s spouse.

Harris says there’s no ritual in a marriage ceremony that instantly creates virtue in a husband and wife. Apparently he believes sacraments don’t give us enough of God’s amazing grace. He seems to have more faith in sacrifice and saying “no” to sex than in the sacrament of marriage.

Catholic priests who write about AIDS prevention and sex need to give us a more wholesome message.

TERRENCE W. HALLORAN, Garden Grove