I'm no fan of the RC church nor fond of whitewashing previous bad choices but they do run the largest private HIV/AIDs care network in the world. There are over a hundred thousand Catholic medical facilities out there. Also, while my own church approves birth control as do I, they are right that abstinence is much less likely to result in a STD then protected sex, even when used properly and consistently which they rarely are especially in developing nations. It is also free, and I think it is easy for people to forget that condoms aren't cheap in places where the GDP per capita is the 3 or 4 digit range, and even at some theoretical bulk discount of a dime a piece a person in the Congo - 2011 Nom. GDP/cap $211 - who went through a hundred in a year just burned 10% of their income when they already don't have a penny to spare. Not too mention I'd bet bulk cheap condoms distributed for aid are probably lower quality, either less safe, or less comfortable, or both.

Dumping condoms by the ton out of blimps and getting the Pope to give it the thumbs up does no good if people don't like using them, and don't use them properly. Simply muttering about education doesn't help us much outside of dealing with a small groups like prostitutes considering virtually every place with an AIDS epidemic also happen to be places where literacy rates are low and education is minimal and rare.