Belgian cardinal on condom use as "lesser evil"

An interesting report:

Brussels, Mar. 10 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Godfried Danneels of Brussels has said that the use of a condom might be a "lesser evil" when it could preserve someone from a deadly disease like AIDS.

[snip]

Questioned on the use of condoms, Cardinal Danneels said that if an HIV-positive man wishes to have relations with his wife, "she should make him use a condom." Otherwise, he said, the couple might be "adding another sin: homicide." The cardinal reasoned: "A condom, when it is used for the protection of life, is not only a matter in the sexual domain." Cardinal Daneels made a similar statement in a television interview in January 2004. Other influential prelates have adopted similar positions, suggesting that condom use could be justified within marriage to prevent transmission of AIDS. In January 2005, Cardinal Georges Cottier, the theologian to the papal household, told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera that condom use "could be considered legitimate" under those restricted circumstances.

Although the Church clearly condemns the use of condoms as a means of contraception, there has been no definitive statement from the magisterium on the particular question of whether condom use can ever be justified. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is reportedly studying the question of whether condoms might be used within marriage to prevent disease.

First of all, from what this article says about this Belgian cardinal - I'm not very impressed. The interview, however, could be painting him in a bad light, and this is the first time I've ever heard anything about him so I can't make any judgement. Perhaps a reader from Belgium or Europe could fill us in?

Now, as to the actual issue, it does not seem to me that the principle of double effect (PDE) applies in the situation described above. But, on the other hand, I can see how the other side would be argued (i.e., the primary intention is to prevent disease and not to frustrate the procreative dimension of marital intercourse).

Oh well, it will be interesting to see what CDF says. Thank heaven the Church has smart people guided by the Holy Spirit to answer the tough questions...