ACET: Church's HIV response needs to address sex and relationships

UK churches should be talking openly about sex and relationships as part of the fight against HIV, says Christian charity ACET.

Launching the charity's Facts for Life resources for World Aids Day, ACET UK's Chief Executive Peter Fabian called on church leaders in the UK to be bold in the face of the growing numbers of people with HIV, both in the UK and throughout the world.

"Churches have traditionally found it hard to talk about difficult subjects like sex and relationships," he said. "But our experience is that, in many communities, too often no-one is speaking clearly and the resulting ignorance is one of the main reasons for the rapid spread of HIV."

ACET programmes in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia are led by church-based volunteers who offer care, education and training for those infected and affected with HIV in their local community.

Facts for Life uses an accompanying DVD to explore the journey that churches, particularly in Africa, had to take to tackle these issues head on. It goes on to encourages churches in the UK to get involved, marking World Aids Day with a time of worship, prayer and giving.

As well as its work in 23 countries throughout the world, ACET works in partnership with a number of UK-based programmes tackling HIV, including the Blue Sky Trust in Newcastle.

A spokesperson from the Trust shared their perspective: "Whilst some churches are committed to this work, many congregations and leaders fight shy of what are seen as controversial issues. And yet our experience, particularly amongst young people, is that even when they are receiving messages about sex and relationships they are desperate to hear the churches perspective on these issues."