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Catholic Denounce Archbishop Chimoio's Comments on Condoms and ARVs

Tell USAID not to fund Catholic church-based HIV and AIDS programs until Archbishop Chimoio retracts his comments!

Email USAID contacts for Mozambique today and let them know that Catholics do not agree with Archbishop Chimoio’s dangerous and deadly statements and that funding should be withheld from Catholic church-based HIV and AIDS programs until he has issued an apology and retracted his statements.

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February 09, 2010

Subject:
Catholics Do Not Support Archbishop Chimoio's Comments on Condoms and ARVs

I am writing to you today as a Catholic citizen of the United States to encourage you not to fund HIV and AIDS programs administered by the Catholic church of Mozambique until Archbishop Chimoio retracts his statements on condoms and anti-retrovirals (ARVs).

Archbishop Chimoio’s comments to the BBC reporter that condoms and ARVs should not be used because they are infected with the HIV virus is a dangerous and deadly statement to make, especially in a country like Mozambique. Over 1.8 million adults and children are living with HIV and AIDS. Approximately 1.1 million of those living with HIV and AIDS are women and children. The HIV infection rate is estimated at 16.2% of Mozambique’s total population with 500 new infections every day. To actively discourage the use of condoms and ARVs is a morally reprehensible act.

Catholics around the world support the use of condoms to prevent HIV and AIDS infection. There are also Catholic bishops on record with their support of condoms to help prevent the spread of the epidemic. Bishop Kevin Dowling of South Africa, a country also hard hit by the HIV and AIDS epidemic, is on record with his support of condoms. Other bishops in support of condom use include Archbishop Lele from Kenya, Cardinal Tumi from Cameroon, and Bishop Moreira from Portugal.

Archbishop Chimoio’s deadly scare tactics do not reflect the views of Catholics worldwide and should not be supported by US tax payer money. Instead, I would urge you to redirect these funds to organizations in Mozambique who support comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention strategies including the use of condoms.

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Catholic Denounce Archbishop Chimoio's Comments on Condoms and ARVs