The Catholic Church has reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS in all its dimensions, as the new-age disease raises serious challenge to India.In a two-day consultation on ‘Church’s concerted response to HIV/AIDS in India’, organized by CBCI health commission in partnership with UNAIDS and Catholic Medical Mission Board, the church leadership and Vatican nuncio reiterated their commitment to the fight against the disease and social challenges it creates.
“The Church is fully committed to and actively involved in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support,” Apostolic Nuncio to India Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana told the conference.
The nuncio inaugurated the seminar April 12-13 attended by leading experts on the subject from the Church, and other agencies. Equality and human dignity, Archbishop Quintana said, were an integral part of Church’s health ministry, and that would remain core of church’s massive efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS.
And the Church provides “health care for all who need it irrespective of their socio-religious and economic status,” the nuncio said.
Nuncio quoted the late Pope John Paul II and said, “Every possible moral, spiritual assistance” must be provided to those suffering from HIV/AIDS and they must be “treated in a way worthy of Christ himself.”
Bangalore Archbishop and chairman of the CBCI health commission Archbishop Bernard Moras said it was time for the Church to renew its mission to the sick.
He said the CBCI and its partners would continue to remain committed to fight the deadly disease.
Hindu spiritual leader and international president of Arya Samaj Swami Agnivesh said in a country like India the spiritual organizations could make substantial contribution to such causes.
He said it was a sad sight to see people do so much for idols in wood and stone while neglecting “children and the sick made in God’s own image.”
President and CEO of Catholic Medical Mission Board Jack Galbraith commended the CBCI’s efforts to provide leadership to faith-based organizations in responding to HIV/AIDS.
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