Faith-Based Groups Get In On AIDS Fight, Grants

Faith-based groups have received a large share of President Bush's $15 billion commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS as the administration is calling nontraditional players, such as church groups, to get involved.

"We clearly recognize that it is very important to work with faith-based organizations," said Dan Mullins, deputy regional director for southern and western Africa for CARE, according to the Associated Press.

Large nonprofits, which have traditionally led the fight, and religious groups are joining the competition for the AIDS money with nearly a quarter of the grants already targeted at the latter group.

In a debate over how to best prevent the spread of HIV, much of the outreach is being directed toward groups that are deeply tied in the countries at a local level and focus on abstinence and fidelity rather than those that distribute condoms or work with prostitutes.

While Mullins sees the need to work with religious organizations in the global fight, he said, "...we don't want to fall into the trap of assuming faith-based groups are good at everything."

Secular organizations have raised concerns that the allocation to new groups without AIDS experience may "dilute" the impact of Bush's program, according to AP.

The new broad effort comes two months after some of the nation’s largest churches broke down stigma barriers, acknowledging their lack of involvement in the global crisis and calling for immediate action.

Megachurch pastors Bill Hybels and Rick Warren announced their plans at Saddleback Church's three-day HIV/AIDS conference - the first international conference of its kind hosted by a local church - to join the fight and reverberate the call to millions of churches.

World Relief, which won $9.7 million of the grant money for abstinence work in four countries, had also taken note of the increased efforts in the Christian community. As the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, World Relief has reached out to AIDS sufferers through local churches and believers, providing employment opportunities and counseling.

Other faith-based groups that have won grants are: Samaritan's Purse, World Vision, Catholic Relief Services and HOPE.

The administration is putting out a call to attract newcomers, especially community and faith groups, and aiming to penetrate hard-to-reach corners of the target countries including 13 in Africa, and Haiti and Vietnam.