"Door Is Open" for Faith Community to Make a Difference In AIDS Response

"We are at a critical moment in the response to HIV and AIDS. Progress has been made but it is not enough and will be lost if political will and financial commitments are reduced. When lives are treated like political chattel, the importance of faith communities is more important than ever to sustain an effective response to HIV," Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer, the United Church of Christ executive for health and wholeness advocacy and executive director of the United Church of Christ HIV & AIDS Network, UCAN Inc., writes in the Washington Post's "Guest Voices" blog. "Too many people hesitate to seek testing or treatment because of fear. That is why people of faith must continue breaking the silence in every way possible," he says, adding, "We must ground ourselves in the value that every child is endowed by their creator with worth and dignity that human judgment cannot set aside." Scheunemeyer continues, "Faith communities are called to deepen their theological reflection on human rights and dignity, particularly where HIV and AIDS is concerned. The door is open to people of faith to stand with all those who are living with or are vulnerable to HIV" (7/26).