The Catholic Church's response to the pandemic of HIV / AIDS

Child Worldw. 1993;20(2-3):18-9.

Abstract

PIP: Individual members and the organizational structures of the Catholic church have done much to respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic over the course of the last decade. Most notably, Conferences of Catholic Bishops have seized the opportunity to reinforce conservative moral teachings and values, especially with regard to sexual behavior and marital relationships. Church leaders have expanded the vision of church-related HIV/AIDS services far beyond that of providing health care to a whole range of social and pastoral activities. Caritas Internationalis has sponsored educational and awareness-raising seminars for church leaders and other professionals at the regional, national, and local levels while also supporting service programs around the world expanding medical and social service facilities; supplies of food, medicines, and HIV-antibody testing equipment; staffing and transportation for mobile home care programs; and support for residences for homeless persons with AIDS, for development-oriented orphan care programs, and for alternative income-generating projects for commercial sex workers. Caritas has been particularly successful in promoting North-South and South-South experience coordination and cooperation among AIDS service providers. Finally, the church is uniquely able to help dying people confront the final realities of HIV/AIDS.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome*
  • Catholicism*
  • Christianity
  • Disease
  • Education*
  • HIV Infections*
  • Health Planning*
  • Religion
  • Virus Diseases