One of the questions I had while in Cape Town is what is the government doing to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS? The answer was given to us by Otto, the pastor at iThemba Labantu. He explained that the government's tactic is to "throw free condoms at people." He said condoms are available everywhere, but there is a cultural stigma associated with them, and people are not using them regularly. The bigger problem, however, according to Otto, is that there is no education about relationships and the importance of commitment. He wasn't saying this as a prudish pastor who wants everyone to abstain from sex. He was saying it as a concerned pastor who has seen too many people hurt by casual sex that leaves behind single mothers infected with HIV. He said what is needed is a program to strengthen family ties and encourage people to stay in monogamous, committed relationships. For Otto, that would help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS more than simply throwing condoms at people.
A short while later, we visited the parliamentary office of the South African Council of Churches. I had to use the restroom while I was there, and sure enough, here's what I found by the sink:
I wasn't sure what to think. If the Church in South Africa is a leading voice of education about the importance of monogamy and commitment, then I guess providing free condoms, too, isn't such a bad thing. But if the Church is not a leading voice, then free condoms in the bathroom of an office that is usually locked and only available to invited guests seems like a very small gesture. Of course, I couldn't be critical of the South African Church without asking myself, "What is the response of the American Church to the critical needs of our nation?" Ouch.
No comments:
Post a Comment