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Catholic
Committee on AIDS
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First
Response of the Catholic Church in Thailand on AIDS
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Realising
the crisis and impacts of AIDS prevalence in Thailand, the Catholic
Church in Thailand through the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand
cannot but respond to this situation by issuing a pastoral letter
to give direction and guidelines to all Catholics and concerned
people to fight against AIDS infection. This pastoral letter is
also a response to Papal call on the Church to AIDS ministry with
the following details.
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Pastoral
Letter of the Bishops' Conference of Thailand
On Guidelines for Christians on AIDS |
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Dear
beloved Christians
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The
world today is facing a danger of AIDS. There is, so far, no effective
preventive or curing measure of this severe disease. Those had been
infected with AIDS mostly died untimely. More important is AIDS
disease has been infected by young people who are in the age of
propagating humanity, the essential dynamism of the whole universe
and the future of all human race.
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At present,
AIDS affects every corner of the world as well as our beloved country.
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The
Church is well aware of the severity of this disease and realises
the failure of campaign only on material dimension against AIDS.
The Pontifical Council for the Help of Health Personnel responsively
organised the fourth international conference on AIDS at Vatican
City in mid November 1989
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In the
address of His Holiness Pope John Paul II given to the conference,
substantial message is as follows:
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The
Church is asked to provide information and knowledge on AIDS to
Christians of every sex and age.
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Christians
should react on the problem of AIDS as follows:
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To
the Families:
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In the
families nucleus is the children's first school of life and of formation
in life' responsibility in all its aspects, including those related
to sexuality.
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To
Teachers and Educators:
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You
should be promoters in close contact with the families, of suitable
and serious formation of adolescents and youth and health education
in which preventive measures are in harmony with moral values in
the development and formation of a just and authentic lifestyle.
You have been confided the responsibility to guide the young generation
towards an authentic culture of love, offering yourselves as tutor
and model of faithfulness to the ideal values which give meaning
to live.
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To
The Youth:
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Your
thirst of life and love should be that thirst of life which is worth
giving, of a life of constructive love. The necessary prevention
against the AIDS threat is not to be found in fear, but rather in
the conscious choice of healthy, free and responsible lifestyle.
Avoid types of behaviour which are marked by dissipation, by indifference,
by egoism. Be, instead, protagonists in the construction of a just
social order upon which will depend the world of your future while
you develop the virtues of friendship and understanding, rejecting
all forms of violence towards yourselves an others.
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To
Those Who Govern and Those Responsible for Social Well-Being:
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You
are urgently appealed to address to this grave problem in every
way by executing a nation-wide plan for the fight against AIDS and
drug addiction. To do so, collaboration among all peoples and nations
disregarding political or economic interest is necessary.
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To
Scientists And Researchers:
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You
should intensify and co-ordinate your labours to discover effective
prevention against AIDS with unconditioned respect for the fundamental
criteria or morality as this is the source of hope for all of humanity.
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To Physicians And All Health Care Workers And Volunteers: |
You
should assist AIDS patients without a feeling of aversion, but with
sympathy and love as they are your fellow human beings so that you
can be the living witness of Christian love.
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To
Priests And Religious:
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Particularly
those dedicated to pastoral health care, you should do your best
to prevent AIDS and take care of AIDS patients by holding firm the
love and charity as many of you have done in the past.
You should carry out your task efficiently so that the sufferers of this disease will feel the love and dignity of being human person, and so that you will be the living witness of the love of the Church and Jesus. |
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To
All Faithful:
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You
should all pray to God that human beings will gain something from
the danger of AIDS and ask Him that humanity will be saved from
the danger of this threatening disease.
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The
Church in Thailand realises the importance and appropriateness of
this Papal address. Therefore, she would like to ask all Christians
to materialise these guidelines on the problem of AIDS.
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VCD
Information
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| Baan Sukruthai | |
| Spirit Consolator | |
| Suthasinee Foundation | |
| Baan Naboon | |
| Lorenzo Home | |
| Baan Mittrathorn | |
| Fatima Self-Help Centre | |
| AIDS network : Thai | |
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Health
Association Media
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© CHC
Address : 122/11 Nonsi
14 Rd,Yannawa,Bangkok 10120,Thailand Tel. 66 2 681 3900 Exit 1309 Fax. 66 2 681 5857
e-mail : chc@cbct.net
Update March 2011