I share Joe's scepticism about all these millions of Catholics who are supposed to have no moral issues about breaking the rules on having sex outside marriage, but are terrified of breaking the rules on using condoms.

It's the logic of Rickety-Tickety Tin -

And when at last the law came by,
Sing Rickety-Tickety-Tin
Her wicked crimes she did not deny.
To do so she would have had to lie,
And lying she knew was a sin.

Makes a good song, but...
..............................
Actually, as I've always understood the position, the Catholic Church has always distinguished in principle between the use of condoms as a contraceptive, which is officially forbidden, and as a prophylactic, which is not.

In the case of Aids the controvery has been over how reliable condoms are in preventing transmission of the virus. This is a purely scientific question, where the church has no particular expertise. Any statements by bishops or church sppokesmen about this are just expressions of opinion. That would include anything Benedict XVI might have to say on this particular aspect.