News

By John Jalsevac

TORONTO, December 18, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Christmas shoppers were shocked this week to find men and women dressed up as Santa Claus on some of the busiest streets in Toronto, handing out condoms.

The publicity stunt was arranged by Durex, the condom manufacturer.

A press release from the company explained that costumed representatives, dressed as Santa Claus, would be handing out the condoms beginning on Tuesday, December 16.

“This holiday season, Durex(R) wants lovers to really feel the Love,” says the release. “Helping Canadians get in the mood to wrap their packages, Durex and Santa will start celebrating the holidays by handing out Love condoms this Tuesday, December 16, 2008 in downtown Toronto. Giving never felt so good!”

“It’s deeply saddening to me that at one of the most sacred times of the year, Durex would do such a thing,” said Suresh Dominic of Campaign Life Catholic in response to the publicity stunt.

“Santa Claus is simply another name for St. Nicholas, a Catholic bishop and saint from the early Church known for generosity to the poor. He is also a symbol of the beauty and mystery of Christmas, particularly for children. To use the figure of Santa to promote an ideology of casual sex on busy public streets is offensive in the extreme.”

Dominic encouraged readers to contact Durex as well as the Toronto mayor and Toronto city councillors to complain.

The condom manufacturer is not the only organization that is hijacking Christmas to spread a message of casual sex. Planned Parenthood also recently made the news by offering gift certificates that can be redeemed for everything from contraceptives and sexually transmitted disease testing to abortions.

To contact Durex, go to:
https://www.durexworld.com/en-CA/AskDurex/Contact%20Us/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

To contact the Toronto mayor:

E-mail: [email protected]

Mail:
  Toronto City Hall, 2nd Floor
  100 Queen St. West
  Toronto ON
  M5H 2N2

  Phone: 416-397-CITY (2489) Fax: 416-696-3687

To contact all other city councillors see
  https://app.toronto.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp

To contact Cadillac Fairview Eaton Centre Management (Santas have been handing out condoms outside of the Eaton Centre)

  Lorie Brodie, Marketing Co-ordinator
  (416) 598-8631
  [email protected]