CHRIST LOVES SOME ONE HAS RIDS

AIDS AND RELIGION

AIDS AND RELIGION DOGMA VERSUS CONSCIENCE

The way religious organizations respond to the AIDS epidemic often depends on their views on birth control and homosexuality. Of the world's major religions only Buddhism has welcomed homosexuals. Islam has treated them harshly, and conservative Jewish, Protestant, and Catholic institutions are quite intolerant. Some rightists, believing AIDS is God's punishment of homosexuals and drug addicts, show them no compassion. The religious right's influence on Presidents Reagan and Bush has been cited for their failure to deal with AIDS adequately (see card 89). Conservatives who try to block sex education in schools may refuse to allow discussion of the use of condoms to help prevent the spread of AIDS, since condoms can also be used for birth control, which they often oppose.

AIDS affects clergy members in diverse ways. The Catholic nun Sister Romana Marie Ryan (see card 49) spent her last days in prayer. The late Reverend Daniel Ritchie (see reverse) became an AIDS activist, reminding people that "Someone Christ Loves Has AIDS." The New York Times reported that a Protestant, Reverend Scott Allen, was asked to leave his ministry because his wife and two sons were infected with HIV by a blood transfusion.

Some congregations show more charity for people with AIDS than their parent institutions, and individuals of conscience like Ryan White (see card 55) and C. Everett Koop (see card 96) often succeed better than institutions in practicing the compassion their churches preach. The AIDS National Interfaith Network, 110 Maryand Ave., Suite 504, Washington, D.C. 20002, phone (202) 5460807, maintains a list of 1,800 church programs for AIDS support. Next Card 91: AIDS AND THE LAW: A Matter of Policy