Press Releases08 Jan 08

Bishops' Appeal Launches Lenten AIDS Campaign

“The Body of Christ has AIDS” – the 2008 Bishops’ Appeal Lenten campaign – was launched at services in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh and St George's and St Thomas' Church, Dublin on Epiphany Sunday, 6th January 2008.

Parishes are invited to raise funds for this special Appeal, which will specifically benefit projects working with people living with HIV and AIDS. The campaign is a joint initiative between Bishops’ Appeal, Christian Aid and Tearfund.

Speaking at the launch in Dublin on behalf of Christian Aid, Mr Victor Henriquez described HIV/AIDS as “absolutely the most serious, long term emergency that Christian Aid and indeed many other agencies working in development have experienced in our years of operation.” He drew particular attention to the knowledge that one of the methods of transmission of the disease is sexual contact. This he said had two effects, silence and stigma. He continued, “Unfortunately, it is all too often faith communities and persons who belong to faith communities who become the prime agents of lack of understanding and stigma. What illness people have has become secondary to how they have become infected and whether or not the person actually deserves this terrible punishment.”

The money raised through the campaign for Christian Aid will be used to assist partner organisation, Anerela+ (the African Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Affected by AIDS). Mr Henriquez said, “Since 2003 Anerela+ has trained and mobilized over 2000 religious leaders mostly, though not exclusively, Christian...Now they are reaching out to people and they do this through organising workshops, retreats, seminars, providing hospital assistance, counselling and even vital antiretroviral drugs for those who are HIV positive themselves.”

In Armagh, Mr Tim Magowan (Tearfund) made specific reference to the impact of civil war and sexual violence in Liberia in recent years. “This appeal will help Tearfund to tackle the spread of HIV and AIDS in communities which are rebuilding after the civil war, by building the capacity of local churches to respond, targeting high risk groups and by raising awareness of stigma about HIV and AIDS through youth programmes and activities within the wider community'.

As part of the campaign, a pack including a CD, posters and teaching materials will be sent to every Church of Ireland parish in the country. These resources include prayer and worship suggestions.

This Appeal is a both a practical and prayerful response to one of the greatest challenges facing our world today and it is hoped that it will receive widespread support throughout the Church of Ireland. Further information about Bishops' Appeal may be found by clicking here.