Development and Peace and HIV/AIDS

Catholic New Times, Feb 8, 2004 by Bert Monster

A minister recently inter viewed on television about the alarming rise of AIDS in Africa soberly replied: "I feel we as Christians will ultimately be judged by God on the basis of our response to the problem of AIDS in Africa."

I wonder how many Catholics in Canada are aware of the recent position taken by the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (D & P) on the question of HIV/AIDS?

D & P, in a public seven-page policy statement released on December 18, 2003, states: "D & P does not fund programs specifically designed to distribute condoms, nor does it fund elements of broader programs which involve condom distribution."

In what can only be described as a means of avoiding controversial and questionable church teaching D & P now claims that "the spread of the disease can only be stopped through education that will lead to changes in attitude and behaviour."

Is this position/the result of a growing ultra conservative church policy particularly in the area involving sexuality?

In the same document, D & P states grimly that "there are between 36 and 40 million people with HIV/AIDS in the world today." It estimates that "100 million people will be infected by 2005. Some 15,000 new cases of infection occur each day. Ninety-five percent of the cases are in the South, in the poorest countries; with 70 per cent of all cases, Sub-Sahara Africa is by far the most affected region."

The D and P policy discounts overwhelming facts and figures, which could significantly reduce the spread, and suffering caused by HIV/AIDS. At the same time, D & P openly admits that their decision not to fund the distribution of condoms is based on their interpretation of the church's teaching on marital fidelity and abstinence.

As informed Catholics we share a responsibility to ask ourselves some very basic and important questions regarding this continuing controversy: Do we ignore statistics that show that the use of condoms can lead to a significant drop (50 per cent) in the spread of aids as was the case in some African countries?

Education admittedly is an important element of controlling HIV/ AIDS but this at best could take years. Given the current facts and figures is there the luxury of such time when more immediate measures are now and immediately available?

Faced with a staggering increase in HIV/AIDS (projected by D& P at more than 400 per cent over the next two years) are we as Christians not compelled to take more immediate and proven measures even if this includes the distribution of condoms?

Is D & P's interpretation of the church's teaching theologically correct? Are we truly saying that a perceived moral issue must give precedence over a known and growing life-threatening situation? Is the church's current interpretation which was contained in a document written in 1965, still valid when HIV/AIDS did not appear until several decades later?

If condoms will prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS does the practice of handing them out necessarily negate church teaching on marital fidelity and abstinence? Does the moral use of condoms under these circumstances not change?

How must we, as individuals, deal with the possibility of coming into conflict with official church teaching? Do we agree that education (aimed primarily at women and children) as claimed by D & P, is the only available means of halting the spread of HIV/ AIDS? Are our Western moral concerns about condoms and promiscuity justified in the current African crisis?

There are probably many more questions we need to ask ourselves as we present ourselves in prayer to our Creator before we can make a final decision on this most urgent topic. At the same time, we will need to consider the full impact of an unfortunate decision made by D & P. As a question of faith we will now have to decide if and how we support D & P on this issue.

Finally, do we trust the Creator enough to judge us according to our intent rather than our actions amid this horrible suffering even when it means coming into conflict with official church teaching?

Bert Monster writes from St. Catharines, Ont.