Compassion in truth

Catherine Scott describes a church service in Malawi that brought home to her the reality of HIV and AIDS for people in Africa.

I was in Malawi on the occasion of World AIDS Day in December, and found myself invited to a remembrance service for those who have died of AIDS in Africa's poorest country, where over 14 per cent of the population are living with HIV. I accepted, little realising what a moving experience it would be.

Around 100 people had turned up - not a full church, but a good cross section of ages, with lots of young people, and both lay and religious. Three priests entered, swathed in Advent purple, with the Mass celebrated by the secretary of Malawi's Bishops Conference, Father Joseph Mpingansjiva.

Candles had been distributed, and as we sat down to pray, a power cut prompted us to light them straight away. This seemed a fitting symbol.

Moved by compassion

'The church has HIV and AIDS' announced Father Mpingansjiva. 'We are all either HIV Positive, HIV Negative, or HIV Ignorant.' He spoke gravely about the numbers of deaths, among them his own brother, as well as many other relatives. There are few if any Malawians that the epidemic has not touched in one way or another. There were poems, readings and testimonies, interspersed with the normal Sunday readings, the story of the Good Samaritan among them - the man who was moved by compassion and acted on it.

One by one, members of the congregation got up and read out lists of names of people they knew who had died of AIDS. Some of them ran to 20 or 30 people. With the Taizé chant 'Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom' playing quietly in the background, the congregation planted their flickering candles in a bed of sand beneath the central altar.

It is up to us to prevent AIDS, said Father Joseph. The numerous posters decorating the sanctuary inviting those present to 'take responsibility' backed up his message. His sermon was clear, calm and compassionate.

Role of the church

The church must care for and have compassion for those living with the disease, Father Joseph told us. The church believes that everybody has a right to full information about how to prevent the spread of AIDS.  Preferably this would be by abstinence and faithfulness. But our God is not a God of condemnation. Jesus welcomed all as his friends, including adulterers, tax collectors and anyone else considered by the 'in-crowd' at the time to be a social outcast.

'Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people will die of AIDS tonight,' Fr Joseph reminded us. 'Not all of them are ready. Many are afraid. Let us pray for their peace of mind, because as Our Lord said to the criminal crucified besides him, "today you will be with me in Paradise".'

Standing in solidarity

Like many of us from our protected and privileged societies in the North, I do not know anyone close who has died of AIDS. The few people living with the disease in the UK have access to the drugs they need to go on living reasonable lives. In Africa the death toll is a silent holocaust - a Tsunami every few days. As I stood in solidarity with these people I heard no sobs, saw no tears. There was just a brave acceptance that this must be faced, the dead mourned, those still living supported, the orphans taken care of - day by day, whatever the cost, all hardships accepted.

We watched the candles burn down as the Taizé music continued. I will not forget this service. I will not forget Father Joseph's face as he spoke that night. This has brought the tragedy and waste of it all home to me more than ever before.

Let us all watch and pray. And let us remember those living with HIV and AIDS and those who, sooner or later, will die - as well as those who love and care for them.

Catherine Scott is manager of Progressio's Africa, Middle East and Asia programmes.