a very good friend of mine has AIDS and due to some bad family situations has been canceled from her health insurance because of a family personality conflicts..her medication is such that state run agencies do not cover her drug therapy. Her family works for the church and was a dependant of the parent. My question is, is it appropriate to ask the church to aide in assistance purchasing a health policy. This individual is really active in the church through choir, and sunday school teaching. She is ashamed to ask..I say , ask because the church is to assist its parishoners..any comments would be helpful.

Dear friend -- Thank you for your letter and my apologies for the delay in responding. In principle, I think that the role of the Church is to care for all people and particularly, in the words of Jesus, for our sisters and brothers in any need. Of course, sometimes a particular church community may not have the resources or the expertise to meet a particular request but even then there is the support of prayer, fellowship and hospitality that can be extended to someone in need. I hope that your friend will approach someone in the church and I pray that she receives kindness and help in return. Blessings, Fr. Rod