Currently, the 18th International Aids Conference is meeting in Vienna, Austria. This year’s conference attendees number around 20,000 and represent 185 countries. Among the main topics is the promotion of widespread testing and access to treatment. According to the latest statistics from the United Nations there were 33.4 million people living with HIV at the end of 2008.
So What?
The day before the conference began, a multi-faith meeting was held to discuss the ongoing role of faith communities. According to a report of that meeting, the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, was quoted as saying, ““This has to do with a basic issue of justice . . .” Others called for faith communities to honor all commitments they have made.
How do you understand education and access to treatment as justice issues? What commitments has your congregation or tradition/denomination made relative to this issue and have they been faithful in fulfilling those promises?