Faith-based organizations and AIDS: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I’ve enjoyed ten years of working in faith-based organizations (FBOs) that fight AIDS, and have seen much to inspire, educate, and horrify me. I’ll base my comments on human rights and love, both of which are biblical principles, even if “human rights” isn’t stated in those terms in the Bible. There is a lot that is compelling about the work of FBOs in AIDS and a lot that, while compatible in theory, is quite contradictory and damaging in practice. Because FBOs have received millions of dollars from the U.S. and other nations, and from other funding sources such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, it is critical to examine how they are working and what their impact is on nations, communities, families, and individuals. Why are Faith-Based Organizations Engaged in AIDS Work?