AIDS Plan Is Lacking
To the Editor:
“House Passes Broader Plan to Fight AIDS” (news article, July 25) highlights many of the positive elements that are included in a recent financing increase to fight H.I.V. and AIDS around the world. But it doesn’t mention any of the negatives, which are considerable. American taxpayers need to know that as a result of lobbying by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and a compliant Congress, several vital measures that would have saved hundreds if not thousands of lives are not in the bill.
For example, the bishops lobbied hard against vital family planning services that can prevent mother-to-child transmission of H.I.V. and AIDS and in favor of the retention of an anti-prostitution pledge, further marginalizing an extremely at-risk group. Catholics in the United States and elsewhere support aid for international family planning and H.I.V.-AIDS prevention programs.
Studies show that properly directed financing for international family planning programs saves women’s lives and the lives of their children when those women have H.I.V. or AIDS. The bishops ignored this evidence to ensure that their own narrow, out-of-the-mainstream beliefs held sway on Capitol Hill.
Jon O’Brien
President, Catholics for Choice
Washington, July 25, 2008
This letter originally appeared in the New York Times on August 2, 2008.