Princess Stephanie Decries Condom Use Opposition
Princess Stephanie of Monaco said Friday it was a shame the Roman Catholic Church opposed the use of condoms in the fight against AIDS. In her first speech as goodwill ambassador for the U.N. AIDS agency, Stephanie said there was no alternative to the use of condoms in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. She also said the church is “against abortions and the use of condoms would avoid abortions, too.'’ “But I think, maybe a lot of people hide behind the religious issue not to use condoms,'’ she said. With her glamorous lifestyle and numerous love affairs, Stephanie has long been seen as a royal rebel. The princess, the youngest of the three children of Prince Rainier III and late Hollywood star Grace Kelly, will serve two years as a UNAIDS special representative. Speaking to reporters at the headquarters of the U.N. agency in Geneva, she stressed the importance of increasing awareness about the deadly epidemic, particularly on the prevention side. She said it was also important to help victims overcome the stigma and discrimination attached to the disease. Two years ago, Stephanie founded a group called Fight AIDS Monaco to campaign against the disease, and this year recorded a new single aimed at raising money for the foundation. She told reporters she would be willing to create more pop songs in the fight against AIDS. “Yes, maybe I will have to sing again,'’ she said.