Awareness for AIDS Patients

His Eminence Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Archbishop of Toronto, recently published a statement, asking fellow Christians to give more awareness to AIDS patients because “we are called to care for all those who are suffering among us”. He pointed out that more than 23 million people around the world have died from AIDS since 1998. More than 40 million people are now living with AIDS (Canada's population is 32.5 million). It is estimated that close to 8,000 people have contracted AIDS in Ontario. More than 25% of all HIV/AIDS treatment centres worldwide are run by Catholic organizations.

“Sadly, in most cases, we have seen the root of HIV/AIDS to be present in moral choices gone wrong: the exploitation of women and children, intravenous drug use and sexual promiscuity are among the leading causes of AIDS transmission… This is an appropriate time to remind ourselves that sexual intimacy is a gift from God that expresses total self-giving in a permanent marriage commitment… As Catholics, we must avoid unjust discrimination wherever it occurs. We are called to approach those in need with compassion and care, following the example of Jesus, who healed those with physical ailments and helped others find peace in their hearts.”

The Barrett House in Toronto, which is managed by The Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, specializes in giving care to people with AIDS. Also, St. Michael's Hospital, one of our Catholic health care facilities, serves those with AIDS through direct care, outreach and extensive research. Our Catholic school boards have also created specialized resources and teaching tools to help educate our children. These include “AIDS: A Catholic Educational Approach to HIV”, used in five school boards across the Archdiocese of Toronto. For more information please visit: www.archtoronto.org/AIDS