Catholic Explorer

Derricka Drake of Detroit raises her hand in the air during a song of praise following Communion during the July 15 closing Mass at the 10th National Black Catholic Congress in Buffalo, N.Y. The theme of the four-day event was "Celebrating the Gifts of the Sacraments."
(CNS photo/Mike Crupi, Catholic Courier)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (CNS) -- Leaders at the 10th National Black Catholic Congress called for a focus on HIV/AIDS ministries to help slow the disease's spread in the black community.

Michael Scott, associate director of the District of Columbia Catholic Conference, which represents the Archdiocese of Washington on public policy issues, said misconceptions still abound about HIV and AIDS.

He noted that black adults and adolescents in the United States have a rate of AIDS diagnoses that is 10 times higher than whites and three times higher than Hispanics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although blacks made up 13 percent of the U.S. population in the 2000 census, in 2005 they accounted for 49 percent of the new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in states that reported new cases.

"HIV/AIDS is largely preventable," Scott said, speaking during the congress's July 14 workshop on "Mobilizing Black Catholic Parishes Around HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention."

The congress's HIV/AIDS commission has set four main priorities for slowing the spread of the disease:

-- Increasing the involvement of priests, deacons and the laity in HIV/AIDS ministry and mobilizing parish support for those infected with or affected by the disease.

-- Advocating for the U.S. bishops to include HIV and AIDS on its list of issues of concern before the U.S. Congress.

-- Bringing together those on the front lines to share ideas.

-- Fostering chastity education in elementary, middle and high schools.

"HIV/AIDS is out of sight, out of mind for many people," Scott said. "We need to promote early testing and medical intervention to arrest the pattern of infection and death."

Since Scott said HIV/AIDS ministries often must battle denial and ignorance, stigmas, apathy, complacency, a lack of support, confusion and opposition to church teaching, he gave participants tips on how to expand their ministries and avoid common pitfalls.

First, he said, it is important for HIV/AIDS ministries and their partnering organizations to conform to church teachings and to not support any organizations that are not in conformity with these teachings.

For example, he said that Catholic ministries and their affiliates should promote chastity and abstinence, not condom use or needle exchanges.

He suggested using Pope John Paul II's theology of the body concept as a way to discuss this with parishioners, and said there are a host of books available that explore this theological viewpoint.

"HIV/AIDS ministry is a ministry that is Christ's ministry, not your will," Scott said.

Prevention messages do not just have to come from HIV/AIDS ministry, Scott noted, but also could be incorporated into health and social service ministries or social justice groups. He suggested that such organizations as Society of St. Vincent de Paul councils, Ladies of Charity groups, sodalities or the Holy Name Society, and Knights of Columbus or groups for young adults might be willing to become engaged in the ministry in some way.

He said many such organizations might support a Mass focused on AIDS, such as a World AIDS Day Mass, or homilists might incorporate messages about AIDS throughout the year.

He suggested getting youths involved in education efforts through character-based abstinence programs, some of which may be available from national organizations, dioceses or Catholic school boards. Messages that are on posters or included in bulletin inserts should be appropriate for all ages, he said.

"There's a time and a place for education, but it's not every time and place," Scott said.

He said parishes could help the poor and vulnerable through efforts such as a Communion ministry, ministries to those who are sick or shut in, collections for people with HIV and AIDS, and support for AIDS service organizations.

Parishioners also could advocate for social justice for those with HIV/AIDS through legislation backed by state Catholic conferences, he said.

Scott also called for parishes to support such local, national and international programs as Catholic Relief Services that serve people with HIV/AIDS and their family members, including the millions of young African AIDS orphans. To accomplish this, he suggested parishioners record a song or CD, organize a gospel concert, host a basketball tournament or organize a walk.

"By 2010 there will be 20 million AIDS orphans throughout Africa," Scott noted.