INTRODUCTION

We, the Catholic Bishops of Zambia, as pastoral leaders, wish to address you on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is now fourteen years since the Catholic Church, together with other Christian Churches, issued Choose to Live ", a comprehensive statement on HIV/AIDS, at a time when there was little known about HIV/AIDS in Zambia.(*1) As Catholic Bishop's, we feel that time has come to write this Pastoral Letter given the devastating impact the disease has had on our society, This adds to the general references we have made on the HIVIAIDS pandemic in some of our Pastoral Letters in the intervening years since 1988 such as, "You shall be my Witnesses " (1991 )(*2) "The Church as a Caring Family" (1997)(*3) and "Choose Life" (1997)(*4).

2. We draw our inspiration in addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS from the mission of Jesus Christ, who said , " the Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, and to the blind, new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lords year of favour" (Luke 4:18 19). Jesus showed his deep concern for the poor, the sick, and the socially disadvantaged. He spent most of his time ministering to these people.
The mission of Jesus Christ, is the mission to which the Church commits itself. This is a mission, in these times of HIV/AIDS that is prophetic (announcing the good news and denouncing immorality) as well as one of advocacy (speaking for tbc voiceless) and mediation (taking practical action in caring for the sick).

3. In many parts of the world sickness and death from AIDS had become a thing of great shame. In Africa too, families tried to hide their tragic misfortune .They camouflaged its presence as T.B. or some other wasting disease .Under the veil of secrecy, the AIDS pandemic flourished and even spread further. Now we have confidence to bring this devastating disease more into the open. The stigma once attached to AIDS is today being swept away. How could we stigmatise the innocent: babies born HIV positive, spouses contracting the virus from unfaithful partners, rape victims, teenager sill prepare and poorly informed for their maturing years and inter-gender relationships! Our traditional values and safeguards are being undermined, even overwhelmed, by the pleasure seeking, global culture seducing our young with its magazines, music, television, and video programmes, often bordering on the pornographic.

4. Society tragically underestimated the power of its enemy, HIV. Despite the heroic work of the churches and some NGOs the deadly peril, HIV, is still among us and as threatening as ever. Far more needs to be done. Too many countries around the globe have not made the battle against AIDS a top priority. Political will is lacking. Countries like Uganda and Senegal made the issue a national campaign uniting the whole of society. Senegal reduced the infection after the first four cases of HIV to 2% at present. According to the U.N. Statistics, Uganda has reduced the rate of infection from 30% to 8% in the last 20 years. They are succeeding in the battle to eradicate HIV from their borders. Zambia must do likewise. Those who govern us and their several ministries and various institutions of state, must place the eradication of the AIDS virus on top of their agenda. The whole of society is ready to join them and give total commitment to a national campaign.

IMPACT OF THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC

5. The problem is not going to go away by itself. Twenty million people have already died, Economic development has slowed and is diminishing; highly skilled manpower has been lost to the workforce; the healthy are over burdened caring for their sick family members or attending funerals; land remains under utilized; exports have fallen dramatically depriving us of the means of paying for urgently needed imports; we will soon have to look after 700,000 orphans. As the year ends, no less than thirteen million will be at risk for starvation in the Southern African Region, including Zambia. This cannot go on. Government and the whole of society must take action and take it now. The nation is in deadly peril. What future are we going to give our children and grandchildren? It is a challenge to make the painful changes and sacrifices involved for our very own!
And there is a way forward. It call for much more effort and commitment by all of us, but it leads to a healthy future and a nation that safeguards its social and moral values.

6. The evils that help in spreading AIDS need to be immediately addressed. 'Property grabbing" sinks a widow and her children deep into poverty where AIDS thrives. "Ritual cleansing" has now been seen by some of the more enlightened traditional rulers, not only as a great social evil, but as a licence to kill by transmitting AIDS. Excessive and too frequent beer drinking has been tolerated far too long by our indulgent customs. Moderate consumption and even abstinence would do so much for our society and put more food into the mouths of our hungry children. The need for strict liquor licencing and restricted drinking hours has become essential. The prevailing habit of the "girlfriend" by need aged and even older husbands is undermining family life and scandalizing our children. AIDS has no better partner in its destructive killing than this widespread evil. Every effort must be made to enhance the dignity of woman, empower her economically and put in place support programmes promoting her equality.

7 An essential weapon in the battle with AIDS is food. We need nourishing food. This must include protein, vitamins and required minerals. Mealie meal alone will not equip us to fight sicknesses and especially AIDS. Another useful weapon is the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres. More centres need to be opened. Knowing one's status is the first step towards behavioural change.

THE WAY FORWARD

8. As Christians and church leaders, we do not wish to trivialize the many initiatives in the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
However, we state very emphatically that the much talked about condom is not the answer to eradicating HIV/AIDS. At best using condoms during sexual intercourse can lower the chances of getting AIDS. The condom can give people false security; but condoms are not always available and reliable. Sex with an infected person always exposes one to infection; with or without a condom risky sexual behaviour certainly kills sooner or later. The condom is immoral and destruetive of the dignity of a person. "Safe sex " or "Protected sex" means abstinence before marriage and fidelity in marriage. This is the teaching of Scripture.Many generations of people before us have protected themselves totally from STD infections or undesired pregnancies through abstinence.

9. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is not merely a medical or health problem. It is also fundamentally a behavioural problem. We should not only treat the symptoms; we should endeavour to remove the causes. The greatest factor in the reduction of HIV/AIDS infection in Uganda and Senegal was the process of Behaviour Change in attitudes, lifestyle and practice. It is the youth above all who have changed in behaviour in those countries. Youths have postponed sexual activity until marriage. In Senegal the age of marriage has been increased. While in Uganda the programme of "Youth Alive" and "Education for Life", a process of behavioural change, have contributed in no small way to reducing infection. A most recent report of the Population Division of the U.N.'s Department for Economic and Social Affairs admits that the mass distribution of condoms, though aggressively promoted by governments, was failing to provide a solution to the African AIDS pandemic. Its findings revealed that the only real major change was a shift toward monogamy. It also noted the most frequently cited change, had entailed confining sexual activity to one partner. Africa has spoken. It has begun to accept that the best way forward is abstinence before marriage and fidelity to one's spouse. The biblical teaching of chastity or purity is still the best way of eradicating HIV/AIDS completely. No one dies of abstinence " or "purity ". Abstinence does not kill and does not cost money. Risky sex behaviour, with or without the condom, certainly kills sooner or later. As Church we call for healthy and responsible behaviour for all.

THE CHURCH'S ACTION PIAN

10. The Church pledges a multi sectoral approach to the HIV/ AIDS crisis. We will therefore continue our home and community based care and support of people living with HIV/ AIDS.

We will also continue our advocacy role on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged and persuade government to marshal human and other resources to eradicate the HIV/AIDS virus. Church related strategy will encompass the following:

a.- We shall redouble our efforts in promoting the integrity of life and creation. When God had completed the work of creation, "He saw that it was very good" (Gen 1:31). We shall therefore as Church support campaigns which seek to stop HIV/AIDS by offering awareness programmes, which support human and moral values and which foster chastity and faithfulness. This alone is effective and offers 100% protection.

b.- We believe that human beings have the capacity to change attitudes and behaviour. The power to fulfill this capacity is often denied and is not exercised. This must now be recognized and exercised. Ws will enable people to initiate change and sustain behaviour that promotes a healthy state of mind, body, spirit and environment.
We therefore pledge to support the programme of "Behaviour Change" promoted by "Youth Alive Zambia ". This programme is proving a decisive factor in lowering the infection of HIV in Zambia among the youth. Change is the most essential strategy in overcoming the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

c.) We commit ourselves as we have done before on other national issues, to work in collaboration with other churches in promoting a chaste life style among our youth. Our youth need space to grow to maturity as persons and learn how to dialogue and develop deep and lasting relationships between boys and girls. Sex is a beautiful gift of God for marriage.

d.) In our parishes and congregations, we urge our priests and pastoral workers to promote a healthy life style among our youth.. Youth need to develop healthy interests and sport. We urge youth clubs, schools and churches to invest in sports such as football, netball, basketball and volleyball as well as other healthy recreational activities. "Don't you know that you, yourselves are Gods temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"(ICor3:16). Respect for one's body and oneself is an important factor in healthy relationships between boys and girls,

e.) We encourage all stake holders, government, the business community and service clubs to marshal resources to open more "voluntary counselling and testing " (VCT) centers in all districts. Knowing one's status is the first step towards behaviour change. "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free
(A 8:32).

f) As a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, our country has a large number of orphans and widows. Social Welfare and Local Government should offer more support to the initiatives of the churches and NGOs. We care because God cares. "God makes sure that orphans and widows are treated fairly " (Deut 10: 18). We shall as Church put emphasis on supporting and empowering families in the community with food and opening the doors of our community schools. We believe that community based care through the extended family or through foster parents is the best sustainable way of giving love and parental care to orphans in a familiar environment.
g.) Sad experience has taught us all that HIV/AIDS spreads because of silence, secrecy, denial and the fear of stigmatization. People talk in hushed tones and attribute the cause of death to witchcraft and a mysterious "short illness". We urge our pastors to use their franchise to speak openly of the disease, its causes and how it can be eradicated. They should appeal, for a healthy, pure, chaste and wholesome lifestyle for our people.

In advocating moral change and behaviour, we are also aware of our own human weakness and vulnerability. We are all guilty clergy and laity alike are in need of repentance. St. Paul speaks for all people when he says, "all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God" (Rm 3:23). With God's grace we can live a pure and chaste life style. "All are offered righteousness through the free gift of God's grace by, being redeemed in Christ Jesus " (Rm 3:24).

APPEALS AND CHALLENGES

11. Sìnce the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS cannot be won by any single group or institution, we appeal to various stakeholders as follows:

ì.) We appeal to the government to recognize that the churches have the largest constituency in the country and their contribution can make all the difference. We appeal to the government to include representation from the Christian Council of Zambia, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia and the Zambia Catholic Bishops on the National AIDS Council.

ìi.) We further appeal to government to declare HIV/AIDS a national disaster so that the crisis can receive the attention it deserves and receive substantial international support.

iii) Hunger and poverty are a fertile ground for the spread of disease. We appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Lands to provide land and title deeds to small scale and peasant farmers and encourage organic farming and simple irrigation. The poor need work and food security.

iv.) Anti retroviral drugs, when made available especially to the poor, must be accompanied by nourishing food. We appeal to the government to oblige millers to fortify mealie meal, the staple food with vitamins and proteins.

12. CONCLUSION

In conclusion we would like once again to express our deep compassion for the victims of AIDS and all who, in one way or another, are affected by this killer disease. We assure you all of our prayers and support in any way we can.

In the face of the untold suffering and misery brought about by this pandemic we would like to proclaim a message of hope: the national catastrophe of AIDS is a challenge to all of us to join hands and reach out to our sisters and brothers who are sick and dying, the bereaved and orphaned. It is an opportunity for us to examine our attitude towards sin and our manner of living and is, therefore, a chance for true conversion. It is an unique opportunity to reflect on and marvel at the mystery, dignity and sanctity of God's gift of life to us. Jesus came so that we may have life and have it abundantly (Jn 10:10). However, if we have to rise to the challenge we need the power that comes from God in answer to prayer. The scourge of AIDS is one which can be defeated only through prayer and fasting. We call upon all of you, Catholic faithful, to pray more and more and to lead the way in the much needed moral rearmament of the nation. We therefore declare the week before the World Aids Day a week of prayer and fasting in order to call down divine assistance in eradicating AIDS. May God bless you all.

The Catholic Bishops of Zambia

24 November, 2002. LUSAKA

Archbisbop Medardo J. Mazombwe Archbishop of Lusaka
Archbishop James Spaita Archbishop of Kasama.

Cardinal Adam Kozlowiecki, SJ Archbishop Emeritus, Lusaka.
Archbishop Adrian Mung'andu Archbishop Emeritus, Lusaka.

Bishop Telesphore George Mpundu Bishop of Mpika President, ZEC.

Bishop Dennis de Jong Bishop of Ndola.
Bishop Aaron A. Chisha Bishop of Mansa.
Bishop Raymond Mpezele Bishop of Livingstone
Bishop Noel O'Regan, SMA Bishop of Solwezi.
Bishop Paul Duffy, OMI Bishop of Mongu.
Bishop Emilio Patriarca Bishop of Monze.
Mgr. George Lungu Apostolie Administrator of Chipata

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1 Issued by the three Christian Churches' mother bodies, namely, the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), the Christian Council of Zambia (CCZ), and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), in January 1998.
2 See paragraphs 48, 49 and 50.
3 See paragraphs 9, 10 and 29.
4 See paragraph 44.