Editor,

RE: "Church got it wrong on contraceptive ban in health centres” (The New Times, September 20).

The position of the bishops in Rwanda, and elsewhere in the world, is based on the position of the Pope, and they cannot break away with the Holy See. If we want to solve an issue, we have to go to the source, and in this case it is the Vatican, not the Diocese of Rwanda.

That being said, the Catholic Church has done much to help the poor and indigent in the world for generations, and I think that we should give credit where it’s due, or at least be beholden to the priests who still sacrifice their lives to help people.

The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is a different subject altogether, as it is not a reflection of the Church's teachings, but the result of the human condition displayed time and again in genocides since times immemorial.The subject here is protection of life, malnutrition, HIV, better education…but not the taking of life.

As a Protestant pastor, I, for instance, have distributed preservatives to the flock and educated them about HIV/AIDS and how these condoms prevent unwanted pregnancy.

I agree that the Catholics should review their position on birth control, but let us be good Christians and not blame them for their views, but recognise their efforts in other fields.

Time will bring change and, until then, let us continue to do the best we can in opening people's eyes and creating awareness on the matter.

Patrick