Condoms should not be used to fight HIV/AIDS as they are unchristian and unreliable, according to an influential church in Ethiopia, where 1,000 people are infected daily.
"Our church does not condone the campaign to use condoms against HIV/AIDS because such practices are unchristian and are not permitted under the ethics of the Orthodox Church," a church leaflet distributed this week said.
"We teach that a couple should be faithful to each other and avoid multiple partners, which is the major cause of HIV/AIDS infection," the leaflet said.
"Furthermore the use of artificial material such as condoms is not reliable and could also undermine the campaign against HIV/AIDS," it added.
About 3 million of Ethiopia's nearly 68 million people are already infected with HIV/AIDS, one of the world's largest caseloads, and the Health Ministry estimates that about 1,000 people are infected daily.
The Orthodox Church says about 60 percent of the population are members of its congregation.
Condoms are widely available in Ethiopia. A packet of three costs 0.25 Ethiopian Birr (0.03 of a U.S. cent).
The government has promoted testing centers and media awareness campaigns in recent months, but analysts say the measures have as yet not reduced the number of infections.