Black Churches Confront HIV-AIDS Crisis

CBS Evening News: Despite Stigma, Religious Leaders Say They Can't Ignore Disease Any Longer

(CBS)  In part one of our report on AIDS in the South among African-Americans, many said the stigma associated with the disease prevents people from talking openly and honestly. No where is that more clear than in the pulpit, but as CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston explains in part two, some churches are starting to begin the conversation.

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The black church - traditionally a loud voice for social change - has been curiously silent on the crisis of AIDS in the African-American community, and some say, even negligent.

When Demarsh Tarver contracted AIDS in Alabama, he says his minister told him to pray for forgiveness.

"When I reached out to the church, I felt like I had been condemned because of my lifestyle," Tarver said. "I basically told him, in so many words, to go to hell."

Despite the fact that pastors across the south have offered small consolation to people infected with the virus, AIDS activists say they need black churches the help stem the growing tide of new HIV and AIDS cases.

While African-Americans represent 19 percent of the south's population, Pinkston reports they're 56 percent of new AIDS cases in the region.

It is an issue that the people of God must address, said Reverend Claude R. Alexander, Jr., of the University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C.

Alexander was one of the first to address the crisis from the pulpit.

"The church must step forward and clarify it as a disease like any other disease," Alexander said.

Speaking from the pulpit, ministers can frame attitudes of love and acceptance rather than judgment, said Reverend Deborah Warren of the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network.

To promote that change, Warren founded RAIN in 1992, to bring ministers together and try to change attitudes.

"If we're not willing to tell our members in our churches that being homophobic is a sin, then we're really shucking and jiving," said Reverend Clifford Matthews of St. Luke's Church.

But as Pinkston reports, they have to do that while still respecting and stepping delicately around core beliefs.

"In as much as we, particularly in our ministry, do not encourage unfaithfulness, that we call adultery or fornication, we're not going to change that particular principle," said minister Corey Bradley with the New Birth Church in Charlotte, N.C.

Slowly, African- American ministers are beginning to recognize the urgent need to take action on the HIV-AIDS epidemic in the black community. Some churches even offer periodic testing in the sanctuary, but getting people in the pews to buy into the message is another issue.

"When we have local agencies to provide testing on Sundays after services, the numbers of persons actually going in the room and getting tested have been very low," said Reverend Michelle Jones of the Friendship Baptist Church.

In the five years that Friendship Baptist has offered on-site services, Jones says only 50 to 60 church members have been tested for HIV at church.

"Well, it's better than nothing," Jones said. "Optimism is very important with this ministry."

Unfortunately, it's an optimism that is still only shared by a handful of religious leaders here. Out of nearly 700 houses of worship in Charlotte alone, only 75 have joined the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network.

[keithle1]

Now there gonna say something about it & get involved? Wow. Too busy condemning people & saying this is a "sin" & that''s a "sin."

"I know you''re dying of AIDS but you need to ask the Lord to forgive your h o m o s e x u a l i t y."

[patriot12436]

tootall
A question from someone observing from the outside looking in, so to speak. What made you think i was upset with God ? I only changed when i found what i was looking for in another direction. Just curious as to why i left you with that opinion. Also i took no offense from your comment as there was none to take.

[patriot12436]

tootall
I have nothing against christains or any other religion. I always try to show respect for all religions. I spent 55 years a s a christain and never found what i was looking for. I finally had a falling out with my church as did half the congregation and we walked away. Most found other churches. I resigned myself to do without a faith. I came to Thailand and was so impressed with the Budhists, i started learning about them and finally accepted this as my faith. I still think basically we all achieve the same things, just maybe pursue different paths. I like that the Budhists do not preach their religion but live it as a way of life. I like that you are learning lives lessons and if do noit learn in this life willbe returned to another life to continue learning. I believe that people and animals all have souls. This was a teaching from the christain faith i could never accept. I have seen animals with more compassion and soul than most people. To those who have made their peace with God i am happy for them. I have made my peace thru Budha. It has helped to make me a better person.

[tootall10142]

NOW COME ON PATRIOT 1234,iVE BEEN READING YOUR OPINIONS FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW I CANT BELIEVE THAT YOU SAY YOU ARE NOT CHRISTIAN.yOU MAY BE A LITTLE UPSET THAT GOD HASNT STEPPED IN TO STRAIGHTIN THINGS OUT.A OLD SOLDIER LIKE YOU CANT HIDE YOUR SCRUPPLES AND YOUR MORALS IVE LISTENED TO YOU TOO LONG.P.S. NO OFFENSE INTENDED JUST A OBSERVATION.

[patriot12436]

gopforever
What happens if you wake up one day and realize you are gay . Are you going t send yourself to reparation therapy or just have your family lock you in the closet for the rest of your life ? You see anyone that talks against it as much as you do usually has deep feelings of wanting to be gay and are trying to suppress those feelings.

[patriot12436]

gopforever
You claim mto be a christain yet when your friend admmitted he was gay you excommunicated him. You judged him. Is this what Jesus would have done ? This type of thinking is why i am no longer a christain. Where is the forgiveness Jesus spoke of ?

[patriot12436]

downtowner97
I do not agree with you about obama, but if this is your belief i respect your right to have it.

[patriot12436]

denn034
i think i have sinned enough in my life that i have no right to judge anyone else. That is something a person has to deal with between them and their God.

[deacon20081]

Basically the Pastors need to put the Good Book on the Altar and show a brief slide presentation of people dying from aids or suffering from various disease...then he should talk to the congregation and ask for comments and questions. Knowledge is power.

[mandylou4u]

I had a friend of mine tell me "I feel like I am doing the wrong thing by being gay, but I don''t feel right if I am with a straight person either." This is so difficult for me, so what I told him is "If you are a Christian, you should pray about this, I can do nothing for you on this subject" He kinda of looked at me like I was being mean. I wasn''t being mean, it''s just that you are the only one responsible for you, my opinion doesn''t count, I won''t judge you when you die. Unfortunately my friend passed away 2 months ago. I can''t quote it word for word and I don''t even remember the verse number right now, but I believe it says in the Bible that God will take away all of your burdens. I wonder if He meant being gay was a burden? My mother told me the only thing that will keep you out of Heaven is non-belief. We don''t have the right to judge anyone else. If we are true Christians. A church should never shun you, they should pray for you.

[susanhelit]

Abstinance only *** ed fails every time - every single study shows the same result - more STD, more pregnancy, even more ***, when you don''t give teenagers ALL of the facts. Tell them the truth, take the mystery away, and they''re less likely to do it too early, more likely to use contraception and protection if they do. But when you give hyperbole and blatant lies about how condoms always leak and make baby jesus cry (pretty near the usual line for most abstinance groups) - teenagers can tell they''re being lied to, and reject the entire message.

[hypnotoad72]

Posted by denn034 at 04:35 PM : Aug 18, 2008

We need to remind people *** is an expression of LOVE and COMMITMENT. It is more than just another biological act, and there can be severe repercussions for being irresponsible. THAT is the choice; hetero or **** or even those who do it with toasters.

And while the world is going to hell, let''s all bang somebody in bed one last time. :rolleyes:

[nextgenman]

Telling kids how to have $ex can only lead to them having $ex given their curious and reckless natures. In other words, there are only two solution to STDs, homosexuals are responsible for most of the STDs by the way, that will work: 1. Abstinence with a strong emphasis upon the pain and life threatening nature of AIDS and STDs; or 2. http://www.homeschool.com/.

Posted by denn034 at 04:35 PM : Aug 18, 2008
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Yawn. I''ll bet none of those little christian kiddies ever have ***....HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[denn034]

"We need better *** education, as well as guidance on the dangers of drugs and alcoholism."
Posted by foxmulder33

Telling kids how to have $ex can only lead to them having $ex given their curious and reckless natures. In other words, there are only two solution to STDs, homosexuals are responsible for most of the STDs by the way, that will work: 1. Abstinence with a strong emphasis upon the pain and life threatening nature of AIDS and STDs; or 2. http://www.homeschool.com/.

[wl7bzh]

Maybe we need to take a closer look at the "political correctness" double standard.

Had the actions of Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton been performed in mainstream churches or organizations, they would have been fired already. Cultural diversity is one thing while hypocrisy is another.

[denn034]

"Mark 2:17, KJV, states: ''When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'' It would seem that Christ is being an intolerant bigot for calling ''sinners [like homosexuals] to repentance.''"
Posted by denn034

Let me add one more thing before some liberal protests that homosexuality isn''t a sin. Homosexuals were killed under the Mosaic Law during OT times at the command of an eternally consistent moral God so, though the NT did away with the death penalty, we have to conclude that homosexuality is still amoral or God''s eternally consistent moral nature is denied. There''s also the issue of Paul excluding homosexuals from the "kingdom" in 1 Corinthians 6:9, NRSV (i.e., read the verse before commenting on that one). Lastly, if calling someone to repentance is insensitive, critical, negative, intolerant, and bigoted, then, so too was Christ. Think about that, people!

[foxmulder33]

Hopefully people don''t see the problem as an issue only in the African-American community. Just half the victims are black. We''ve seen time and again how quickly STD epidemics happen in suburban communities and high schools as well. We need better *** education, as well as guidance on the dangers of drugs and alcoholism.

[denn034]

Mark 2:17, KJV, states: "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." It would seem that Christ is being an intolerant bigot for calling "sinners [like homosexuals] to repentance."

[denn034]

SOLUTION: No more homosexual or bisexual *** or *** with drug users.
Posted by denn034

SOLUTION: No more homosexual or bisexual $ex or $ex with drug users.

[denn034]

SOLUTION: No more homosexual or bisexual *** or *** with drug users.