AIDS Update

by Fr. Phil Schumacher

The 16th National Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry Conference was held this past July in Chicago. The theme was Sent Out Two by Two. Rev. Robert J. Vitillo, president of the Board of Directors, talked on applying the principles of Catholic social teachings to this pandemic. He proposed that the National Catholic AIDS Network subscribe to a new ABC approach to HIV/AIDS: Advocate for changes to legislation, culture, attitudes or practices that promote imbalances of power; Break the silence that colludes with situations of denial, stigmati-zation, isolation or discrimination; Challenge instances of discrimi-nation and injustice occurring in communities.

World AIDS Day, December 1, is set aside world-wide to encourage people to breakdown the political, social, and cultural barriers to effective HIV prevention and care. This is a preventable disease. We, as followers of Jesus, are called to provide awareness and education about HIV/AIDS; to demonstrate compassion for those infected or affected with the disease; and to share our moral principles to prevent this disease. We, as the Body of Christ, are living with HIV/AIDS whether we are personally infected or affected. We, as Catholics, are called to respond to this pandemic in the Light of the Gospel. We are called to reach out to each person infected or affected with HIV/AIDS since each is made in the image and likeness of God.

World-wide 42 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS and more than 20 million have died. Five people world-wide die of AIDS every minute. Here in Minnesota the numbers are increasing. At the end of 2002, we had 4,598 people living with HIV/AIDS. There were 305 HIV cases reported in 2002.

For more information, encouragement or support, contact Fr. Paul A. Schumacher, PO Box 383, Redwood Falls, MN 56083, (507)644-8114. For a free confidential oral HIV test, call 1-800-966-9735.