Re: HIV/AIDS Policy of India's Catholic Church an abandonment of reality

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum Members

What a bitter disappointment is the HIV/AIDS Policy document of the Catholic

Church in India that's due to be launched in New Delhi on August 31.

Having just read the draft copy, courtesy of the eforum, one can only

despair at the head-in-the-sand attitude that's been adopted in this document.

As the founder/president of a Catholic AIDS-care agency in Australia, I'd have

to describe the very title of this document " Commitment to Compassion and Care "

as a contradiction in terms! Worse, for it to quote " Blessed of

Calcutta " " A person affected by HIV/AIDS is Jesus among us. How can we say 'no'

to Him? " ...and then to proceed to do just that is strikingly hypocritical.

One can only hope that the bishops are aware of the difference between

" affected " and " infected " .But their usage of the word, " affected " , even on the

cover page, has me very doubtful.

For the Catholic Bishops of India to declare in this document, as they do, that

" the use of condoms will not be promoted " makes me ashamed to share the same

church with them.

It has been medically recognised that condoms are a vital defence against the

transmission of HIV/AIDS and to deny them a place as a considered strategy is

simply, disgraceful.Condoms are lifesavers.

Forum members are invited to visit our website at www.aids.net.au

There, if they visit the Catholic AIDS Ministry page in the About Us area they

will read vitally helpful information concerning the value of condoms.

The Catholic Bishops of India, like their counterparts in Australia, very

specifically abandon their obligation as true shepherds by denying such

protection even in those marriages where a spouse is HIV infected. To blithely

talk about " empathetically sharing the anguish of the couples...and to inform

them of the church's teaching on marriage and sexuality " is to be completely

indifferent to the plight of these people. These people must be told..in clear

and simple terms...that the use of a condom in such circumstances is an absolute

obligation.

The sanctity of human life is absolutely paramount to God, if not to some church

leaders!

" How can we say 'no' to Him? " ask the bishops. They've just found the way to say

NO. It's called turning your back on Him!

As a Catholic AIDS care agency we call upon all fellow Catholics to say " NO " to

such bishops, whether they're in office in India or Australia or both - as they

are.Clearly, they have no real regard for their flocks.

Haill,

The Australian AIDS Fund Inc.,

ston, ,

AUSTRALIA

Email: bhaill@...

[Guest guest]

This is in reponse to Haill's message on HIV/AIDS Policy of India's

Catholic Church " an abandonment of reality "

Dear Haill,

I do not share your view that the HIV/AIDS Policy document of the

Catholic Church in India due for launch on 31/8/05 is a bitter

disappointment. I consider the document " a challenge accepted "

than " an abandonment of reality " . My reasons for making this

statement are as follows:

1)The document declares the commitment of the Church to

provide care and support to the affected*(which includes the

infected) and to provide necessary information to the

uninfected on prevention.

(* According to UNAIDS Glossary of AIDS-related terms,

Affected Community is " Persons living with HIV and AIDS, and

other related individuals including their families, friends,

and advocates whose lives are directly influenced by HIV

infection and its physical, psychological, and sociological

ramifications.)I am sorry to note that you are ignorant of this

definition.

Today, in India, there are large number of PLHAs who are in

need of care and support and a good number of the PLHAs have

already benefited immensely by the care & support provided by

Catholic Health Institutions. In India, majority of the care &

support facilities for PLHAs are run by Catholic Church. At present

the Catholic Church in India has 64 care and support Centers or

short-stay homes across the country. The Church has strongly said

that no institution of the Church should ever close its door

against a person living with HIV.

On the prevention front, the Health Commission of the

Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, collaborated with Indira

Gandhi National Open University in developing study programs

on " HIV and Family Education " , which is offered in distant mode

of learning in Hindi and in English. This is indeed a major decision

in promoting awareness and education for prevention. The Kenyata

University in Nairobi in Kenya has been using the same study

programme from IGNOU for their students.

2)The declaration that " the use of condoms will not be promoted "

does not in any way diminish the commitment to provide care &

support to the PLHAs. It is in the context of providing the critical

care & support, which has extended the life of many a PLHA who had

no hope of living, not saying " NO " to such people, the quote of

Mother is relevant.Obviously, your reaction is based on a

prejudice. Unfortunately, it serves no purpose.

3)The situation in India with regard to stigma, discrimination

and the lack of adequate facilities providing medical care &

psycho-social support makes care & support a more important need for

the PLHAs than the condom promotion. In any case, there are

umpteen organizations promoting condoms but very few providing care

& support.

4)Your disappointment stems from mixing up two different issues: (a)

providing care & support to the PLHAs to prolong their life and (

protecting the uninfected spouse from infection. If the catholic

church chooses to focus on the former, which is actually the more

challenging task, shouldn't we appreciate instead of criticizing it

for not doing what you think is more important?

5)There is no point in simply criticizing the known position of the

catholic church on condoms. It is a known fact that while Catholic

Church doesn't promote condoms, it also doesn't penalize any member

for using condoms.It is up to the individual to make that decision.

Information is anyway available.

In view of the above, I consider your reaction hasty, prejudiced and

negative.

I appeal to the community to be more positive to

whatever any institution--religious/secular-- is doing in the

direction of alleviating the suffering of the PLHAs and the

prevention of new infections. It is easy to criticize than

creatviely work towards solving the problems or resolving the

issues.

LET US APPRECIATE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR COMING FORWARD TO

PROVIDE THE MOST NEEDED CARE & SUPPORT TO THE PLHAS AND PROMOTING

SAFE & RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR TO PREVENT NEW INFECTIONS.

I strongly object to your provocation to say " NO " to Bishops

etc. The Catholic Church in India has time and again demonstrated

that they have regard for the flock. Fortunately, the flock is

mature enough not to be swayed by your provocation. On the other

hand, I guess, if a member wants to leave the Catholic Church on

this issue, he/she always has the option to do so. Please do

not promote chaos and disorder among the faithful flock.

Lastly, your interpretation that Bishops have found a way to

say " NO " is narrow and wrong. The Bishops indeed have thrown open

the facilities available with them to say " YES " to all PLHAs who

need care & support.I urge you to please read the document

with open mind to avoid seeing the proverbial " speck " overlooking

the " log " in the process.

Let me clarify that I am not responding on behalf of the Catholic

Church in India but as a group member having exposure to Catholic

Church in India. In fact, I am not even a catholic.

Ranchi, India

E-mail :dsdondapati@...

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

I want ot respond to and Haill.

I feel sad that activists ocf condom promotion promotion have used such strong

languages right from the begiinning of the AIDS problem.

It has driven out well intentioned people out of the race. All who promotre

condoms a do not necessarily believe in it.

It is more probably to keep the donors happy.

Condoms is not a religious problem but a cultural problem of India. The sooner

we recognise this aspect then we will be able to move forward.

I have challenged many of those promoting condoms where is the data to show that

condom production and sales have increased sufficiently to control AIDS.

Where is the result of crores of rupees spent on condoms? If all the condoms

sold are didvided by the each high risk person will not probably have more than

10 condoms per year. Some body with accurate data can correct me on this.

Irrespective of our backgrounds and beliefs there is need to work together. All

have stengths and weaknesses. Let us pool our strengths together.

Yours sincerely,

Abel.

E-mail: <rajaratnamabel@...>