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U.S. Hispanic families are larger than the average American family, but the minority group carries more than their share of the HIV epidemic, reports indicated.
The National Alliance for Hispanic Health noted that Hispanics account for 19 percent of nearly 1 million U.S. AIDS cases diagnosed in the past 25 years while they make up only 14 percent of the U.S. population. And the number of deaths from AIDS in the fast-growing minority group is on the rise.
Despite the growing crisis in the Hispanic population, the ethnic group is far behind in the HIV/AIDS battle.
The Rev. Luis A. Cortes Jr., who heads Esperanza USA – a leading voice for Hispanic Christians – indicated that the AIDS talk is far from the pulpit in Hispanic congregations. Even sex is an ill-spoken topic in the Hispanic church.
"In the Latino community, to talk about sex is a taboo," said Cortes at a summit on AIDS at Saddleback Church a day before World AIDS Day.
As clergy ignore talk on sexual behavior, more Hispanic-Americans are getting tested and diagnosed too late. More than one third of Hispanics were diagnosed with full-blown AIDS within a year of testing positive.
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There are around 18,000 Hispanic-American churches in the United States, according to Cortes, and most of the clergy are ignorant about HIV/AIDS.
It's not anything new for the overall church community, which just recently got on board in the AIDS crisis. Thousands of evangelical pastors recently attended the second annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church to gain knowledge or start an AIDS ministry. But Hispanic clergy are still largely in the dark about the issue. Cortes attributes that to ignorance and fear.
Pastors fear becoming outcasts and addressing the issue of homosexuals, according to a national survey Cortes cited. Additionally, a lack of education or theological training has not provided enough knowledge for pastors to bring up the pandemic in the church.
With resources on HIV/AIDS just developing for the evangelical community, very little is available in Spanish.
"We have to create an environment where the clergy are secure in their lack of knowledge because that is the biggest issue – educating our clergy," said Cortes.
Hispanic pastors are just beginning to learn of the widespread epidemic, particularly through Esperanza's new telenovela-style short film.
Already shown in 10 cities, "No Te Rindas" (Don't Give Up) depicts the issue of HIV/AIDS from a faith and Hispanic perspective and gives clergy an easier way to address the AIDS issue with the congregation.
The next showing takes place in Washington, D.C. on Monday.
