Bermuda's new Roman Catholic Bishop yesterday condemned plans to hand out condoms in Island bars to mark World AIDS Day.

Bishop of Hamilton Robert Kurtz said: "We would not be in favour of giving out condoms in bars -- we are all in favour of raising awareness of AIDS, but there is a certain morality which goes along with that.'' Bishop Kurtz was speaking after the Bermuda World AIDS Day committee revealed it would mark the December 1 event by placing bowls of free condoms on the bars of ten Island pubs and nightclubs.

He stressed that the Church took AIDS seriously and was dedicated to showing compassion to sufferers from the killer disease.

But he said: "Simply giving out condoms isn't going to help people to understand what the intimacy of a sexual relationship is all about.

"The whole issue is much bigger than just avoiding AIDS by using a condom.'' Bishop Kurtz, who took over as the head of the Catholic Church in Bermuda last month, added: "Our efforts would go in another direction -- from our perspective, we need to point out our teaching of sexual ethics in terms of responsibility, love and intimacy within the structure of marriage and abstinence in a relationship outside marriage.'' But Bermuda World Aids Day committee chairwoman Mrs. Joan Dillas Wright was last night unrepentant.

She said: "We knew this was going to be controversial, but those of us who work in the field know that sexually-transmitted diseases have not declined and practices have not changed. It's past the time that we have our heads in the sand.

"In our discussions with young people, we have found that they are sexually active and we have found that older people aren't just sticking to one partner.'' Mrs. Wright added: "While I understand and accept the Bishop's views, generally speaking, the message is that people aren't changing their behaviour and we weighed everything up carefully before taking any decisions.

"We certainly found that the adult population, those who frequent bars and clubs, when they are under the influence, they are less inhibited and don't always think rationally. They may not always act responsibly.'' She added that the condom giveaway was only one strand in an AIDS awareness campaign which includes avoiding promiscuous sex, special forums for teenagers, a Red Ribbon Day, a memorial quilt for AIDS victims and an ecumenical service in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity.

Mrs. Wright added: "Promoting the use of condoms is just one aspect of our activities -- we are not about giving a licence for people to engage in promiscuity.'' The Rev. Leonard Santucci, an AME minister and president of the Bermuda Christian Ministerial Association, an ecumenical body embracing several faiths, said: "I believe the Catholic Church recognises that extramarital sex does take place, as do other churches, although we may respond to that differently.

"Most Christian pastors will argue that the place for sex is within the bonds of matrimony, but at the same time, most of us are realistic enough to realise that premarital sex is a reality in this world.

"Most pastors will argue in favour of safe sex in terms of its medical implications, but at the same time, they would prefer that argument not to be considered.''