Religious officials address communities with AIDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Religious leaders and lay persons from around the world gathered to share accounts of the role of faith communities in the fight against AIDS at a summit organized by the White House Office of National AIDS policy. The summit was the largest meeting of religious leaders in the U.S. to discuss AIDS, drawing more than 70 clerics and lay persons from 22 countries.

The meetings were part testimonial and part call to arms, with leaders sharing personal stories about how their faith has been affected by the AIDS epidemic and how their faith has driven their responses to people with AIDS in their communities.

During small group discussions participants discussed concrete examples of how faith communities can respond to AIDS. Minister Gideon Biyamughisha of Uganda, who is HIV positive, discussed his decision to share his experience with his diocese.