Sunday, June 26, 2005
2:38 pm | Posted by
Mark Chataway |
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A few weeks ago I was asked to take part in a meeting at the Hewlett Foundation on future directions in informing policy on reproductive health in the USA. I was asked particularly to look at the apparently growing influence of evangelicals on American thinking. (If you're interested, my presentation to the group is on the Hyderus Web site, www.hyderus.com)
What struck me is the demonisaton of the religious community by secularists. In the coffee breaks there were lots of horror stories about what faith-based groups were alleged to have done, especially in promoting abstinence in communities heavily affected by HIV. Sometimes when I go to Christain health meetings, I hear the same kinds of stories about leading non-religious groups -- they are trying to promote abortion and squash any discussion of the importance of sexual faithfulness.
I followed up on the things I'd heard and a friend at World Vision referred to me an excellent article that I'd missed in The Lancet (The Lancet 2004; 364:1913-1915). It's about the common ground on preventing sexual transmission of HIV and there is an awful lot of it. The article is signed by leading epidemiologists, researchers and leaders of faith-based organisations. We may all differ on 10% of what we need to do in the face of this epidemic but 90% of it is crystal clear. You'll need to register for The Lancet to read the whole article but it's free and well, well worth the time. Especially, if you've ever harboured the delusion that people of good will cannot work together on HIV prevention.
What struck me is the demonisaton of the religious community by secularists. In the coffee breaks there were lots of horror stories about what faith-based groups were alleged to have done, especially in promoting abstinence in communities heavily affected by HIV. Sometimes when I go to Christain health meetings, I hear the same kinds of stories about leading non-religious groups -- they are trying to promote abortion and squash any discussion of the importance of sexual faithfulness.
I followed up on the things I'd heard and a friend at World Vision referred to me an excellent article that I'd missed in The Lancet (The Lancet 2004; 364:1913-1915). It's about the common ground on preventing sexual transmission of HIV and there is an awful lot of it. The article is signed by leading epidemiologists, researchers and leaders of faith-based organisations. We may all differ on 10% of what we need to do in the face of this epidemic but 90% of it is crystal clear. You'll need to register for The Lancet to read the whole article but it's free and well, well worth the time. Especially, if you've ever harboured the delusion that people of good will cannot work together on HIV prevention.
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