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Black Catholic Events
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Southeastern Conference of Catholic AIDS Ministers SECCAM '08
August 12-16, 2008. Norcross, Georgia
God Entrusts US to One Another
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 The Southeastern Conference of Catholic AIDS
Ministers (SECCAM) was established in May of 2007 to respond to the growing need
for a Catholic-based response to the AIDS epidemic in the Southeastern region of
the United States. It emerged from a concern of AIDS ministers and lay ecclesial
ministers about the root causes leading to the rise of HIV infections in the
South, now considered the "epicenter" of the second wave of AIDS in the country.
Inspired by Catholic social teaching, SECCAM
acknowledges the God-given dignity of each human being and advocates for just
programs which allow access for all people to prevention education, early
testing, healthcare treatment (including medications), spiritual accompaniment,
and support for all our brothers and sisters infected and affected by HIV and
AIDS. As Catholics, we believe that our faith community is well-positioned to
positively respond to the crisis with its teachings, ministries and structures
to promote the Catholic HIV and AIDS prevention, awareness and education
message.
The Catholic Church has a proven record of providing
compassionate care through its many global programs and initiatives. SECCAM
focuses attention on the People of God in the Southeastern region of the U.S.
who are at risk of HIV infection and whose access to medical care and treatment
from federal and state-funded secular AIDS service organizations is very limited
or non-existent. Our increasing concern stems from recent public health data
showing that the South, specifically, now accounts for the highest number of new
infections; the largest number of people living with AIDS; and the greatest
number of AIDS-related deaths. We are witnessing the devastation this epidemic
is causing among our friends and families, in our parishes and in the general
community.
We have seen how HIV and AIDS keep snatching
precious lives among our youth, the poor, the elderly and the marginalized.
There are unique challenges faced by persons impacted by HIV and AIDS in the
region: the shortage of medical specialists in rural areas, the widespread lack
of awareness, the ingrained stigma and consequent discrimination converge in a
humanitarian crisis deserving of an immediate and focused Christ-like response.
SECCAM encourages Catholic ministries, lay ecclesial
ministers, parishes, schools and dioceses to establish creative collaborations
for integrating the response of the Catholic Church to the HIV and AIDS crisis
into their particular programs and ministries. Our initial step is to invite you
to join us at a retreat facility in Norcross, Georgia for our first SECCAM
Assembly, SECCAM '08. Join us to reflect and pray, think and learn, listen and
speak, share and receive, mourn and celebrate, rest and work. There is a lot of
work to do for all the lives touched by HIV and AIDS.
God entrusts us to one another. We hope you
can join us in Norcross, Georgia from August 12-16, 2008.
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