THE TEACHINGS OF THE LOCAL CHURCH ON HUMAN SEXUALITY
Question 5: Do you think that people consider the teachings of the Church on human sexuality in their decisions on sex and sexual matters?
5.4 The SACBC AIDS Office
conversion. Industry, advertising and corrupt officials, all of these have to change.
. They also note that it is not all those who are
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positive who are equally free to follow the Catholic ideal of marriage. Withalltheir shortcomings they seecondoms, nevertheless, as important in stopping lllV. They see the use of a condom as a first line of defence. Saving lives, by even the most imperfect means, would appear to be the first and most important thing to do.
. Response: "My office co-ordinates the response of the Catholic Church to HIV/AIDS in the SACBC territory. The SACBC encompasses SouthAfrica, Swaziland and Botswana, and we also work in Lesotho and Namibia because of funding arrangements. We deal with five of the seven countries which are most affected with AIDS. What we do is to ask for proposals of projects, which seek to assist those infected and affected with AIDS. These proposals are submitted through the respective dioceses. Itis our responsibility to make sure that each and every diocese in the SACBC has a response for AIDS. In our office we have project managers who go out to the different dioceses to help out with management skills and the capacity building of the local church. Our emphasis is on local, rural and small. We do have big projects likeSinosizo in the Archdiocese of Durban and the Caring Network in Cape Town. These two projects have good structures and are more organised. An example of one of our small projects isNdumo in the diocese of Ingwavuma The AIDS office has over 100 projects, offering peer and horizontal learning. Peer learning means that those who are involved in the project share information and learn from one another. Horizontal learning happens when someone comes from outside the group to assist. Some of these projects are involved in advocacy."
Question 2: What is advocacy?
Response: "Advocacy refers to lobbying on behalf of those who do not have a voice. Those who are involved in advocacy network take the government to court on certain issues and represent the Church in particular forums trying to change structures. Those involved in advocacy also engage government departments in dealing with issues like child-care and foster-care grants, maintenance grants and fast-tracking the process of adoption. Through my experience with the work of advocacy I have noticed that people want to deal with faith organisations. This helps in bringing about credibility and weight to the issues at stake.
We are also involved in media and cornmunication. This helps in the passing on of information related to AIDS. Wetryand facilitate a free flow of information from
our different projects. These are opportunities of learning even for us, as you might . know the Church is not really good at communication We also have a number of
Community Outreach Programmes. We have one at the Valley of Thousand Hills in KwaZulu-Natal, St Annes in Mariannhill and Blauuwbosch in Newcastle. We also have clinics like the one in Winterveldt (Pretoria), which has facilities for the possible prevention of the mother-to-child transmission of IDV/AIDS.
There are prevention programmes that are targeting the youth. One of these projects is called Education for Life. This project was started in Uganda by Sr Mirriam Duggan. This prevention programme focuses on behaviour change.Italso tries to instil a conscious effort to delay sexual intercourse. Here young people are encouraged to wait until marriage for their first sexual intercourse. The Church struggles with prevention work since it is often seen as a hindrance in this area Itis far better accepted for its response in the area of care.
Another prevention programme used in some areas is called True Love Waits. Itis similar to Education for Life, as it deals with prevention and life-skills. We also have home-based care programmes which are linked to orphan-care projects and to income generating projects. These projects help people look after themselves. They are projects like gardening, crafts, beadwork, papermaking and many others. The policy of this office is totryand support every effort that is initiated by the local communities as theytryto respond to the challenges that are posed by the AIDS pandemic. We tryto link up better-resourced projects with those that are struggling, for an example, there is a sister from Dundee and an Anglican woman who did some training in the diocese ofTzaneen. A sister from De Aar does a lot of training wherever she is needed.
The AIDS office of the SACBC is also involved with the SACC12.We are also a member of the inter-faith group called NRASD13.This group was started by the then Minister of Social Development, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi. She did not want to speak to one Church on certain social issues. She then decided to call all the religious bodies together to form this forum where they together could deal with
12South African Council of Churches.
13National Religious Association for Social Development.
AIDS education and poverty alleviation The NRSAD has recently become the official working arm of the NRLF14.The latter has asked me to represent the faith section on SANAC15, which is meant to act as an advisory body to the president and the government."
Question 3: Do youthinkyour work is relevant to the South African population?
Response : "Yes. Itis. AIDS is the greatest crisis that has ever plagued the globe.
The gospelhas to be preached in the world in which we live. The values of the gospel, as interpreted by the Church, should be implemented by responding to our brothers and sisters in need. This is our arena where we can give flesh to our values.
We are all part of the body of Christ. Wetry to reach out, although at the same time try to avoid being a Church of 'hand-outs'. This is education and hospital ministry in a new form."
Question 4: What advice would you give to an unmarried
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positive young man who has made a young woman pregnant, who still wants to live together?Response: "I would want to find out about their expectations of each other. They must decide whether to marry or not. Some are unable to make decisions. 1 would offer them information. They would have to make options around prevention. 1 would further advise them to get involved with youth clubs and other social activities where they can receive support and information. We should start where people are, and then gradually move with them to a higher goal."
Question5:What do you perceive as obstacles in your work of educating people on the prevention of AIDS?
Response: ''The negative attitude of the public and the media towards the Church is disheartening. Due to apartheid the Church in South Africa faces a lack of capacity in many spheres like poor management, poor financial skills and lack of skills in the
14National Religious Leaders Forum.
15South African National Aids Council.
running of projects. There are not many people who want to be involved. The hierarchical church needs to provide leadership at local level. "
Question 6: Share with me your high- points in your work.
Response: "On a personal note, this is a faith commitment. I do this work because I believe this is a call to continue the healing mission of Jesus. I also note with joy that the local Church is not necessarily a hierarchical church. Itis a Church doing its own work."