From Mrs April Alexander
Sir, - After Mr Gavin Turner's letter (10 October), I would like
to draw attention to another matter that seems to be missing from
the Pilling debate. This is that the official guidance is similarly
"almost certainly a serious obstacle" to reducing the number of
deaths from AIDS in parts of the Communion.
Lord Fowler, in AIDS: Don't die of prejudice (2014),
reminds us that 1.5 million people die every year from AIDS,
although "we have the means to at least contain the virus." The
reason, in a word, is "prejudice". "The penalty for disclosure in
many parts of the world is to be thrown out of the family house and
out of work." Sufferers in some communities in Britain experience
similar impediments to seeking help.
In some countries, legislation is cruel, and government PR
against homosexuality is appalling. Here "the Churches have
generally played a discreditable part," including two successive
Anglican archbishops in Uganda. "Meanwhile the [Church of England]
fumbles for a position on gay people," and "even in Britain you
find Bishops deciding that the civil right of equal marriage should
not be available to their own clergy. They should beware, lest
their reputation for intolerance spread."
The final chapter is headed "The shame of the world", and it is
clear that the Anglican Communion does not escape responsibility
here. In view of the number of deaths and the number of orphans,
perhaps this issue should also be incorporated in the Pilling
debate.
APRIL ALEXANDER
General Synod member
59 High Street, Bletchingley
Redhill RH1 4PB