National Mirror
Called to Witness
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Date: Wed, Apr 07, 2010
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Papers, Publications & Reports
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ACTION AGAINST HIV/AIDS
Author(s): Most Rev. John Njue, Chairman, Kenya Episcopal Conference.
Language: English
Abstract
The preparation of the national Catholic AIDS policy ‘This We Teach and Do’ has been in many ways a journey of faith. This has necessitated a deeper examination of the nature of the challenge of HIV/AIDS in the face of over twenty years of the Church’s experience in the broad arena of service delivery, in Preventive and Curative measures and the complex problem of orphans & vulnerable children.
While the way forward has not always been clear, the Church has never hesitated to provide service and leadership even in difficult areas despite limited resources. We have provided care for the sick, prevention programs particularly for the youth, mother to child prevention programs and assistance to OVCs.
While doing all these we have, in reviewing our actions, our successes and our failures, felt the need to work out clear guidelines and broad strategies to provide a roadmap for our various parishes, diocesan institutions and national structures upon which many Kenyans rely for various types of support and services.
Catholic HIV and AIDS Policy in Kenya, is thus meant to
1. Give a collective sense of direction, overall guidance, justification and reflection on the Church practice with regard to HIV/AIDS.
2. Acknowledge what has been done so far, encourage grassroots initiatives and give structure for responses and programmes at all levels.
3. Serve as a point of reference, provide a framework and elaborate answers on difficult issues.
The Policy is thus both timely and needed and it will be an appropriate conclusion to the end of the first ever National Catholic AIDS Conference.
It is my sincere hope that all the participants in the conference will examine the practicability of the Policy and share the acquired knowledge with all agents of evangelization and partners who provide us with assistance in many ways.
This policy will also be of particular use to those who have to deal with challenging situations everyday, whether the challenge be moral, spiritual, psychological or material – for the faces of HIV/AIDS are many and everyone is called to action.
As the Policy so pointedly states “We in all Church efforts to prevent HIV from spreading, to heal illness and soothe suffering and to address the painful consequences of the pandemic, the duty of everyone involved - bishops, clergy, religious, faithful - is to spread the Gospel and form consciences in the light of these values”. Therefore, we recommit ourselves to be faithful to Jesus Christ in responding to the challenges posed by both sexuality and stigma.
In fidelity to the Gospel, our struggle against AIDS should never erode but always enhance the dignity and worth of each human person. And in response to the HIV pandemic, the Church carries out her mission at every level. We recognize and appreciate the impressive efforts made by many Dioceses, Parishes, Congregations and the Faithful in responding generously, often under difficult circumstances.
We join Pope John Paul II of venerable memory in recalling “with admiration the many health-care workers, chaplains and volunteers who, like Good Samaritans, assist persons with AIDS and care for their relatives. In this regard, the service of the thousands of Catholic health-care institutions that go to the help of people in Africa afflicted by every kind of illness, and especially by AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, is invaluable.”
We appreciate, thank and bless the clergy, the religious and the faithful involved in the ministry of the sick, in education and formation of youth, in pastoral duties and home-based care, in projects large and small.
We appreciate the efforts being made in HIV and AIDS programmes by governmental and non-governmental institutions when they encourage abstinence and fidelity as well as care for people living with HIV and AIDS.
We honour the many families, widows, widowers and communities taking holistic care of their sick with much love and sacrifice. We thank the families and institutions who care for orphans.
We applaud the efforts made by Kenyan medical personnel, both modern and traditional, in treating and caring for people living with HIV and AIDS; and by the counsellors who give hope to the infected.
We wholeheartedly support the involvement of conscientious parents, teachers, and religious leaders who take to heart the instruction and moral formation of children, youth and communities.
In conclusion and on behalf of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, I wish to invite us all to take a deep look at the national Catholic AIDS policy for therein is a portion for each one of us. It lays the foundations for what we have been doing, what we are doing and what we shall continue doing.
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