Positive Response to our “Combating AIDS Through Abstinence” Project
Dear Steve,
May the peace of the Lord be with you. Thank you very much for your letter dated March 3l, 2004, giving us the valuable information about how best to access funds that are available for the fight against HIV/AIDS.
I completely agree with you that it is not only unfair but immoral to devote all the available resources only to condoms and other anti-life methods. We have constantly insisted here that promoting abstinence and fidelity does cost money and that we deserve to have at least as much of the resources assigned to us for this purpose as they are giving to those who are promoting and peddling gadgets and condoms. I am glad indeed that you are there to show us the way through…
John Onaiyekan
Archbishop of AbujaGarki-Abuja,
Nigeria
Dear Sir,
Many kind and prayerful greetings from the Diocese of Kasana-Luweero in Uganda.
I am writing in response to your kind correspondence of 2nd April 2004 in which you gave me details of how this Diocese may access the current U.S. Congress Grant to Africa and the Caribbean to fight HIV/AIDS.
It is true, as a Catholic Church, Kasana-Luweero Diocese does not subscribe to the distribution of condoms as a means to fight HIV/AIDS. The Diocese is however fully involved in the fight using ways and means that do not compromise the moral and social integrity of the human person.
The underlying challenges in all families, communities, schools and parishes were found to be largely based on the scourge of HIV/AIDS, malaria and sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), the matter being aggravated by ignorance and poverty.
From this basic challenge of HIV/AIDS, malaria and STDs people struggle to keep alive by all means: It is from this struggle to survive that witchcraft and mushrooming religious sects thrive. They portray themselves as being able to find answers to heal people and eradicate diseases and poverty, while the situation only gets worse.
Cyprian K. Lwanga
Bishop of Kasana-Luweero,
Uganda
Dear President,
The Church has a definitive role to play in the face of the present scourge of HIV/AIDS. Condoms cannot be the real solution. We cannot be convinced that we are facing the problem squarely by opting the use of condoms. We are merely worsening the situation by resorting to condoms. We need to approach the problem with a lasting solution. The dissipation of knowledge from your newsletter is the most ideal. The extent of coverage and the depth of the scientific insight, so skillfully condensed for a single and sufficient dosage, are a rightful remedy to the epidemic. Christian inner values to chastity and balanced maturity in matters pertaining to sex will be a safe road to the Culture of life.
Emmanuel Mapunda
Bishop of Mbinga,
Tanzania
Dear Steven W. Mosher,
Greetings from the Catholic Diocese of Iringa in Tanzania. I would like to…thank you for the information you have sent to us. I printed the matter and gave it to my Bishop, And he gave it to the priest in charge. I am sure they are working upon it.
Wishing you all the best for this valuable service you are rendering to us and above all to those suffering of this terrible pandemic — AIDS…
Sincerely yours in Christ our Lord,
Fr. Peter Wissa (Bishop’s Secretary)
Iringa,
Tanzania
Dear Marie Smith,
We have today submitted our concept paper to the USAID Mission in Nigeria for the abstinence only program as a sure way of controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
We were told that the senior program officer is on leave. The office promised to give us a meeting.…
We are united with you always and we request that you continue to assist us with technical advice until we achieve our projects.
A copy of the concept paper we submitted has been sent to you .… We also hope that we would be able to get a sub-grant from you in order to continue our programs till we are through with USAID Mission, Nigeria.
Thanking you always, we remain united with you in the fight against the HIV virus and the AIDS epidemic in Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Fr. Patrick U. Nwosu,
Coordinator, HIV/AIDS
Catholic Diocese of ILORIN,
Kwara State,
Nigeria
Condolences to America
Deep condolence on the death of Ronald Reagan one of the great Presidents of The United States of America.
I humbly unite my prayers with the American people.
Your friend from Thailand,
Archbishop Lawrence Khai
