Catholics to Take on AIDS

Roman Catholic churches are urging parishioners to respond to the AIDS and poverty crises in Africa. Catholics should also do their part in the United States, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, episcopal moderator for the National Catholic AIDS Network, said in a letter to US bishops last month. The US Council of Catholic Bishops and the National Black Catholic Congress are asking people to help those with the disease and to work on projects aimed at preventing the spread of AIDS.

Church officials say the mission must overcome ignorance, racism and stigma about the disease if it is to work. The Catholic Church has sponsored missionary projects and offered financial support to fight AIDS in the past. However, some Catholic churches are expected to elevate AIDS to priority status in 2003. The Archdiocese of Chicago, for example, is working on AIDS prevention projects including a new HIV/AIDS curriculum for children in Catholic schools.

Hubbard believes churches are in a good position to help lift the stigma from HIV/AIDS and to fight the discrimination some infected people face. He suggests churches focus on projects directed to blacks and Hispanics, who have higher rates of HIV infection and AIDS deaths.

Catholics say AIDS was first raised as a priority by bishops in 2001, but many in the church were slow to respond. "The problem is getting people to be totally aware of the situation. Often it isn't talked about from the pulpit or printed up in the church bulletins," said Dr. Opal Easter, co-chair of the Chicago chapter of the National Black Catholic Congress. "We want to let people in the pews know exactly what's going on." Easter said the organization has made AIDS a key goal for the next five years.

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