The Role of the Church in Promoting HIV/AIDS Awareness in Africa

The church in Africa has maximized her efforts to promote awareness about the disease. These efforts generally range from the provision of facts about HIV and AIDS, its modes of transmission, various types of high-risk behaviour that increase its transmission, education for responsible and positive living, mainly focusing on human sexuality and related issues. This theme is treated in the light of the church’s moral teaching emphasizing its fitness and purpose of conjugal love essentially connected with procreation as established in God’s creative plan. According to the anthropological vision of Genesis , man and woman received a gift of life from God. By this gift of God’s love for them they were empowered to become co creators with God to give life to new human beings. Thus, the couple, while giving themselves to one another, they also bring forth children as a reflection of their love.

jinn said:

The church in Africa has maximized her efforts to promote awareness about the disease. These efforts generally range from the provision of facts about HIV and AIDS, its modes of transmission, various types of high-risk behaviour that increase its transmission, education for responsible and positive living, mainly focusing on human sexuality and related issues.

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And an example of its efforts to promote awareness:

The head of the Catholic Church in Mozambique has told the BBC he believes some European-made condoms are infected with HIV deliberately.

Maputo Archbishop Francisco Chimoio claimed some anti-retroviral drugs were also infected "in order to finish quickly the African people".

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BBC NEWS | Africa | Shock at archbishop condom claim

:sarcastic

jinn said:

The church in Africa has maximized her efforts to promote awareness about the disease. These efforts generally range from the provision of facts about HIV and AIDS, its modes of transmission, various types of high-risk behaviour that increase its transmission, education for responsible and positive living, mainly focusing on human sexuality and related issues. This theme is treated in the light of the church’s moral teaching emphasizing its fitness and purpose of conjugal love essentially connected with procreation as established in God’s creative plan. According to the anthropological vision of Genesis , man and woman received a gift of life from God. By this gift of God’s love for them they were empowered to become co creators with God to give life to new human beings. Thus, the couple, while giving themselves to one another, they also bring forth children as a reflection of their love.

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Oh wow....

If by 'promote awareness' you mean let millions of people get infected and die because you their ignorant, immoral teachings, then sure. You do realize that the raging HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa is generally attributed to the influence of the church right? Or maybe that is what you meant by 'God's love'.

9-10ths_Penguin said:

And an example of its efforts to promote awareness:


BBC NEWS | Africa | Shock at archbishop condom claim

:sarcastic

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Frankly, not an uncommon belief by some Africans, and some Americans. I don't think that's an official church position.

freethinker44 said:

Oh wow....

If by 'promote awareness' you mean let millions of people get infected and die because you their ignorant, immoral teachings, then sure. You do realize that the raging HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa is generally attributed to the influence of the church right? Or maybe that is what you meant by 'God's love'.

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I haven't actually seen that to be the case. I've seen plenty of criticism for the discouragement of condom usage, HOWEVER, it is disingenuous to imply that the catholic church has excessive influence in the area of condom usage but cannot seem to get get people to stop engaging in extra-marital sex.

The HIV epidemic would have a lot more to do with cultural beliefs that ignore medical science, the preferences for "dry" sex in some cultures, the spread of the disease from mother to child for lack of medication or sterile birth environments and so on. One can argue whether the church has helped or hurt that, but they are not the attributable cause of the epidemic, nor is the catholic church the only missionary or local religion that has influence on the African continent.

ETA: not saying I agree with the OP, per se, just disagree with the response.

First of all, Jinn, may we know what church are you talking about? Are you talking about the Roman Catholic church, the Eastern Orthodox church, a Baptist church, or what? Please be specific. Now, let's suppose you're talking about the Roman Catholic church.

"Yeah! Be aware that your sexual partner has HIV/AIDS and don't use protection because it's against the will of God. I'm promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, don't I?" - :liturgy:

"Yes, you do, father. You do promote HIV/AIDS awareness when you said that." - :angel2: