Misleading Metro Ads

By Michael F. Flach
HERALD Editor
(From the issue of 1/3/02)

Nothing like starting off the new year on a controversial note. Those of you who ride Metro to work on a daily basis may have seen a new ad sponsored by the dissident group "Catholics for a Free Choice." The ad openly criticizes the Catholic Church (and specifically the U.S. Catholic bishops) for its teaching against the use of condoms to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Metro has a policy of not accepting "false and misleading" advertisements. But Susan Gibbs, communications director for the Archdiocese of Washington, said Metro officials continue to run the ads, despite the fact that they were informed that the ads are factually incorrect.

The Catholic Church teaches a chaste lifestyle that prevents sexually-transmitted disease, Gibbs said, while condoms do not. Catholic organizations also provide 25 percent of all HIV/AIDS care worldwide, making the Church the largest provider of this type of care, she said.

"We have received calls from parishioners all over the region complaining that the ads are not factual, and that they have received poor treatment from Metro when calling to express dismay about the ads," said Michael Scott, HIV/AIDS Pastoral Ministry Director for the Archdiocese of Washington.

Scott said the archdiocese spoke with the organization's General Counsel's Office and was told the ads, which read, 'Catholic people care. Do our bishops? Banning condoms kills' and 'Catholic people care. Do our bishops? Because the bishops ban condoms, innocent people die' are simply 'opinion' that fall under the First Amendment."

"The General Counsel's Office said the public agency accepted the ads because, in Metro's opinion, the ads were ‘not false and misleading,’" Scott said.

Metro received information to the contrary before the ad campaign began. The fact is the bishops do not have the authority to "ban" condoms as the ads claim. The Catholic Church, under the leadership of the bishops, advocates a lifestyle of abstinence outside of monogamous marriage, a lifestyle that is the only way to completely protect people from sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS. In fact, advocating condom use over abstinence may actually increase HIV infection and susceptibility.

A July 2001 NIH-NIAID report notes condoms have a 15 percent failure rate for the HIV virus.

Malcom Coate, a reader from Annandale, said he was deeply saddened to see that Metro had agreed to run the "offensive advertisement. This ad appeals to what is really the first prejudice in America — the concept that the Catholic Church is planning to take over the country. While the hate-speech implicit in the ad is protected by the first amendment, Metro has no obligation to publish the ad in their subway cars and bus stops.

"Does anyone believe Metro would take an attack ad against black leaders?" Coate asked. "Catholics must insist on equal treatment. The ad implies that the Catholic bishops just don't care, clearly a lie, as these men have dedicated their lives to helping others."

Coate says that Metro has a complaint system available on line. We invite HERALD readers to join in him in demanding the ad be withdrawn. Metro’s Web site is accessible at www.wmata.com. Hit the search button at the top of the page and search for "complaint." Or simply e-mail Metro at csvc@wmata.com, reference complaint number 1910, and express your desire that Metro withdraw the ad and apologize to the local Catholic community.— M.F.F.

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