Sharing the pain: response of the churches in Papua New Guinea to the AIDS pandemic.

This presentation focuses on the involvement of the Church in the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. The Church believes in the sacredness of life in every person and in a human dignity that needs to be respected. Therefore, people with AIDS should not be condemned, avoided, or rejected. The Church also points out the importance of HIV/AIDS awareness education in explaining the meaning of human sexuality in the context of marriage and religious teaching. Young people are also challenged to be faithful to their Christian valuesparticularly those of respect, sacrifice, discipline, and responsible sexual behavior. Due to the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS situation, both the Church and the government should take up the responsibility to prevent the spread of these diseases. Moreover, in addition to medical programs, Church-related organizations will continue to provide psychological, social, and economic support as well as counseling services.