Through education and support, we—as individuals & faith communities—work to build bridges, reduce stigma & sustain hope. History
In times of trouble, people have traditionally looked to their communities of faith for guidance and support. Today, we have another crisis demanding a response. It is estimated that 1 million people in the U.S. have been infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
That translates to about 1 in every 250 people in the United States. AIDS is currently a leading cause of death in the U.S. And the number of people infected and affected is growing exponentially. The demographics of the disease are changing quickly, with increases in rural areas and among youth, women, people of color and heterosexuals. One in every four new HIV infections in this country are estimated to occur among people under the age of 20. Each hour, two more teenagers become infected with HIV in the United States. There is no known cure, and the treatments developed so far are only partially effective. In Pima County, Arizona, it is estimated that more than 6,500 people are living with HIV. There is a great need for the people of Southern Arizona to respond with greater compassion, generosity and concern for all affected by HIV/AIDS. And what people are more called to respond than people of faith? "As people of faith, we believe that God's reassuring and embracing presence reaches out to all those who are alienated and oppressed. We serve God and humanity by striving to emulate divine compassion, to seek justice and to provide service. This is our prophetic task"
—AIDS National Interfaith Network
Our communities of faith must be able to deal with the growing number of members who will be seeking support and guidance as this pandemic grows to touch more of our homes, our families, our congregations, our hearts. AIDS is found in every segment of our community, and it affects every faith community. For each person infected there are countless friends, families and co-workers affected. Many faith communities in the Tucson area are stepping forward to respond to this crisis, discovering that there is tremendous value in gathering together, sharing ideas, supporting each other, and linking people of faith together to respond as one people of care and compassion for those living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS is a challenge, but it also represents an opportunity for communities of faith to respond with ministries of healing and hope, of concern and compassion. This disease challenges us to be healing communities, to respond from our deeply-rooted belief systems of caring for and affirming the dignity of all people. We are called to reach out with compassion rather than judgment, to foster awareness and education rather than fear, to support and minister to those living with HIV, to comfort the dying and the grieving, to respond in the face of suffering and pain, to act on the tenets of our faith.
