Faith in Action Now! Ecumenical Pre-Conference Report

Catholics for Choice was active days before the opening of the AIDS 2008 conference in Mexico City through our participation in the Ecumenical Pre-Conference-Faith in Action Now! This important curtain-raiser to the AIDS 2008 conference brought together faith leaders and activists from all over the world representing a multitude of different faith groups. It was encouraging to see a variety of the delegates, including those from the Catholic tradition, backing the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV.

In the closing session of the pre-conference, Paul Bekker, AIDS Ambassador for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, highlighted a recent Catholics for Choice initiative, the Open Letter to the Pope, as being a vital action in developing more openness about HIV and AIDS the world over.

Bekker addressed the pre-conference on the subject of "The role of government and FBOs in bringing hope to communities affected by HIV." As he examined the role of Faith-Based Organizations, he referenced the sixty groups who signed on to the open letter as being an excellent example of the type of initiative that will bring change about. The person sitting beside him, Msgr. Gustavo Rodríguez, President of the National Social Commission of the Catholic church in Mexico, did not address the issue of prevention in his message.

The Open Letter to the Pope garnered an almost-unprecedented and immediate response from the Vatican, as well as attracting vast media attention around the world.

For more information about the Open Letter to the Pope, the Vatican's response and a selection of media coverage, visit our website at http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/