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The Body of Christ has AIDS: The Catholic Church Responding Faithfully to HIV and AIDS in Papua New Guinea

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Abstract

Using the example of the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea (PNG), I detail how, through praxis, it has brought to life a living theology of HIV and AIDS. In this way, the Catholic Church in PNG is responding faithfully to the epidemic. As a Christian country with a generalised HIV epidemic, where the body of an individual is reconstituted through the liturgical practices of baptism and Eucharist, theologically, in PNG the body of Christ has AIDS. In order to examine the ways in which the Catholic Church in PNG has responded faithfully to the Christian body with AIDS, I do so in relation to the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love.

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Notes

  1. This is not to dismiss the wonderful work being done by a number of other Christian Churches in Papua New Guinea.

  2. The Christian Revival Church claims to offer spiritual healing and thus advocates that members stop taking their antiretroviral drugs.

  3. I thank Tim Leech for helping me clarify this point.

  4. Huli are one of the largest tribe in Papua New Guinea. They are from the Southern Highlands Province.

  5. O arise, all you sons of this land!

    Let us sing of your joy to be free,

    Praising God, and rejoicing to be

    Papua New Guinea!

    Now give thanks to the Good Lord above

    For his kindness, his wisdom and love.

    For this land of our fathers is free

    Papua New Guinea!

  6. The Collaboration for Health in PNG is a philanthropic endeavour of a number if Australian pharmaceutical companies to build the capacity of HIV service delivery in PNG.

  7. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

  8. See Reformed Ecumenical Council (2005) who state that this was their inspiration. I am indebted to their writing for this description which I have adapted.

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Acknowledgements

I appreciate the support and feedback of Tim Leech, Sr. Tarcisia Hunhoff and Elizabeth Reid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea

    Angela Kelly

  2. National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Angela Kelly

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  1. Angela Kelly
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Correspondence to Angela Kelly.

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Kelly, A. The Body of Christ has AIDS: The Catholic Church Responding Faithfully to HIV and AIDS in Papua New Guinea. J Relig Health 48, 16–28 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9220-z

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