wfn.org | Episcopal bishops ask President and Congress to join global fight against AIDS

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2001-171

Episcopal bishops ask President and Congress to join global fight against AIDS

by James Solheim
jsolheim@episcopalchurch.org

     (ENS) As world leaders gathered for a special United Nations session on AIDS, over 
117 bishops of the Episcopal Church addressed a strong plea to President George W. Bush 
and members of Congress to support "the global fight against HIV and AIDS in the 
poorest countries.

     "AIDS is now the number one cause of death in Africa, surpassing malaria, and 
kills many more people than armed conflicts," the bishops pointed out in their letter 
released today. "HIV and AIDS is not only a humanitarian disaster that challenges our 
moral fiber, it poses serious economic and security threats to the region."

     Episcopalians have a special stake in the crisis, the letter observed, since "sub-
Saharan Africa is home to the largest and fastest growing population of Anglicans in 
the world." Religious leaders in the area "have a role to play, helping to overcome the 
stigma and cultural obstacles to effective HIV prevention and education, advocating 
with their government leaders to act, and perhaps assisting in the distribution of 
materials and medicine," the letter said. 

     The church in the United States also has a role to play "through direct relief and 
development resources, and through educating our congregations," the letter stated. "We 
ask the U.S. government to do its part by taking bold action on this most critical 
issue…. For us, there could be no more important faith-based partnership with the 
government than one that begins to address the tragedy of HIV and AIDS in poor 
countries."

Unmistakable message

     "I don't know another faith community that has received such a broad and powerful 
response from its leadership around the country on HIV and AIDS," said Tom Hart, 
director of the Episcopal Church's Washington Office on Government Relations who 
coordinated the effort. "Responding to this pandemic seems to transcend our theological 
differences in the church. I am encouraged that this letter will send an unmistakable 
message to our political leaders that our church is stepping up to the plate to address 
the AIDS issue in poor countries--and we are urging our government to do so as well."

     While it is difficult to estimate the costs of fighting the pandemic in Africa, 
the letter from the bishops urged the United States to provide an annual contribution 
of $2 billion, half for prevention and treatment and the other half for development and 

infrastructure needs. "The United States has been the unquestioned leader in the 
international response to AIDS," the letter notes. "For that we are grateful. We ask 
the U.S. to continue this leadership with a strong financial commitment to combat the 
pandemic."

     The letter tied the fight against HIV and AIDS to the debt issue, urging the 
President and Congress "to lead the World Bank and IMF to provide deeper debt 
cancellation for the poorest countries" so they could use their precious resources for 
critical development needs.

     "We may not be able to solve the entire problem today, but let us not be 
discouraged from taking the steps necessary to begin the journey," the letter 
concluded. "We simply cannot walk on the other side of the path in the face of such 
suffering. A large international commitment, led by the United States, can stem this 
humanitarian crisis."

     For further information contact Tom Hart at 202-489-7188.

--James Solheim is director of the Episcopal News Service.