VATICAN - The Church and the battle against HIV/AIDS: Pontifical Council for Health Care issues paper

Tuesday, 23 March 2004

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Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Catholic Church is deeply committed to the battle to treat HIV/AIDS sufferers and to prevent HIV/AIDS. In 1999 the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral organised an international Meeting with three main objectives: promote assistance to HIV/AIDS patients; orient the problem of fighting HIV-AIDS in keeping with the Church teaching; coordinate Catholic movements and groups working in the field of HIV/AIDS.
A summary of that Meeting, in Dolentium Hominum review published by the Pontifical Council, highlights three points: AIDS in the world today, situation and future challenges; results of a survey “situation, problems and suggestions of local Churches for social-health services and pastoral assistance for HIV/AIDS patients”; life as a basic value; places for education to values; experience and future prospects for preventative intervention and programmes founded on education to values; accompaniment: assisting the person with HIV/AIDS, access to treatment, assistance in the field, pastoral experience of some local Churches.
The conclusions showed that during the meeting 25 priests from 22 different countries all over the world reported on the situation and pastoral care in their area. Considerable differences were noted in various countries: marked secularisation in western countries, restrictions on activity in countries where the Church is a minority or where there are other religions. (AP) (23/3/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:25; Parole:282)