Resources

Channels of Hope training approach described in French by Malian Imam.

A summary of a mapping project done to understand the impact of the Catholic Church in combatting HIV/AIDS.

A review of research from Malawi, DRC, and South Africa regarding practices and opinions of sexual health and couple decision making.

This background paper presents regional strategies to strengthen the role of faith-based organizations in responding to HIV & AIDS. It brings attention to four key areas: access to essential services, building a supportive environment, strengthening the capacities of families and mobilizing and supporting community-based responses in addressing the needs of children affected by HIV and other vulnerable children in the EastAsia and Pacific region.

Presentation for the UNAIDS and FBO Webinar on the Lancet Special Edition on Faith and Health Care, December 14, 2015. Full Webinar and presentations here: https://jliflc.com/sessions/unaids-webinar-on-the-lancet-special-edition-on-faith-and-health-care/

On World AIDS Day, the World Council of Churches launched Leading by Example: Religious Leaders and HIV Testing, a interfaith campaign that encourages religious leaders to inspire getting tested for HIV and especially to lead by example and have themselves tested for…

The Framework for Dialogue is a tool for developing joint actions and ongoing discussions between religious leaders, faith-based organizations and networks of people living with HIV at national level. Evidence that quantifies and illustrates the experiences of people living with…

This third volume in the series focuses on ways to ‘map’ (in the different uses of that terminology) faith-inspired providers, and on assessment of their cost for patients and the extent to which they succeed in reaching the poor.

Extending Service Delivery (ESD)

This study examines the ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN), in partnership with the WHO, conducted a multi-country analysis on faith-based drug supply organizations and their contribution to medicine supply in 11 sub-Saharan African countries.

This review documents Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and inter-faith initiatives in Cambodia and their varying response to HIV. This review highlights their contributions to HIV/AIDS and the important role they play in development of families, women, and children.

The Heythrop Journal Special Issue on Faith, Family, and Fertility: On Faith, Health and Tensions An Overview from an inter-governmental perspective

This strategic FBO framework was developed to support and guide work already being undertaken globally, regionally and nationally by a diverse range of committed individuals
and organizations. The UNAIDS–FBO strategic framework is the result of an 18-month consultation process between the UNAIDS Secretariat and Cosponsors, many FBOs, networks
of people living with HIV, government representatives and technical experts during 2008–2009.

The special section of this issue of AJPH (pp. 361–386) highlights the wide range of existing and potential partnerships between public health agencies and faith communities across domains of public health practice and religious traditions. The work of religious institutions serves as…

A review of HIV and AIDS care-givers from sub-Saharan Africa. This report highlights their importance, and states htat 90% of HIV care is done at home by family or community members.

The goal of this document is to provide faith leaders who frequently work with HIV/AIDS patients tips for pastoral care.

Religiously-motivated stigma regarding HIV may lead to denial and discrimination, preventing children and adolescents from receiving the critical care they need. Without treatment, HIV progresses rapidly and is often fatal in infants and children – almost 75% of untreated, HIV-infected…

Presentation for the UNAIDS and FBO Webinar on the Lancet Special Edition on Faith and Health Care, December 14, 2015. Full Webinar and presentations here: https://jliflc.com/sessions/unaids-webinar-on-the-lancet-special-edition-on-faith-and-health-care/

A summary of the HIV AIDS and Maternal Health JLI F&LC report.

This brief highlights potential areas for dialogue and action that build on common concern for families and social justice. It draws on the Georgetown University Berkley Center/World Faiths Development Dialogue (WFDD) 2011 review of faith and maternal health.

A review of efforts of faith based providers working to improve maternal health.

The  Review of Faith and International Affairs has just published a special series on Religion and Development See Journal here edited by Jill Olivier with a grant from JLIF&LC through DFID support Includes the following articles: Innovative Faith-Community Responses to HIV…

Religious leaders could help improve uptake of male circumcision in HIV-prevention effort Education of religious leaders had a substantial effect on uptake of male circumcision, and should be considered as part of male circumcision programmes in other sub-Saharan African countries.…

Presentation for the UNAIDS and FBO Webinar on the Lancet Special Edition on Faith and Health Care, December 14, 2015. Full Webinar and presentations here: https://jliflc.com/sessions/unaids-webinar-on-the-lancet-special-edition-on-faith-and-health-care/

This report reviews the work of faith-inspired leaders, communities, and organizations in worldwide efforts to reduce maternal mortality. Maternal mortality rates represent one of the most extreme cases of inequality in public health worldwide, but decades of global action have failed to remedy the gap between wealthy and poorer countries when it comes to maternal health. However, recent evidence that global maternal mortality is decreasing significantly, if gradually, has helped strengthen momentum and refocus attention on the issue.

More than 200 million women in the developing world want to avoid pregnancy but currently are not using family planning. Family planning can contribute to reductions in maternal and child mortality and improve health and wellbeing. Christian hospitals, clinics, and…

These khutbah and sermon guides were developed to empower religious leaders with the tools and skills to reach their congregations with key messages on pediatric HIV transmission and prevention; stigma and discrimination; and treatment, care, and support; as well as…

Report issued by Save The Children, May 2013

An overview of Catholic responses to HIV including challenges and successes

Faith leaders, as trusted and respected members of their community, have played a hugely significant, and often unsung, role in the Ebola crisis. In the midst of confusion, fear and panic, communities have often turned to them for guidance. They…

The Faithful House PMTCT Supplement builds upon the information presented in The Faithful House program. Information for facilitators and counselors supporting pregnant women who are HIV positive is included in this supplement.

When it comes to dealing with population growth, there are a number of misconceptions about the position of the Catholic Church. Official teaching during the twentieth century gradually moved toward the acceptance of limiting family size and endorsed the concept of responsible parenthood during the Second Vatican Council. One cannot, therefore, justifiably claim that the church is against birth control. It is an entirely different matter, however, when it comes to the practical question about how a couple might go about regulating fertility. Since the publication of Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical, an intense controversy has taken place within the church about the use of artificial contraception. Behind that controversy lies an important methodological issue. For, the traditional teaching to which Paul VI returned in his letter was based upon the presumption that it is possible to morally judge a physical, material act without any consideration of the persons who performed that act, the circumstances within which it took place, or the reasons why the act was chosen. This behavioural approach to morality stands in some contrast to the way that other moral questions are dealt with. Inflicting pain or even taking a person’s life, for instance, can be justified for a good reason when one acts in a virtuous manner to instil discipline or safeguard justice. Until this methodological controversy is addressed, the problem of using artificial means to regulate fertility will not be resolved. A helpful key for solving the methodological ambiguities is to use moral language in a consistent and understandable manner.

The leadership of the Church in the Philippines has historically exercised a powerful influence on politics and social life. The country is at least 80% Catholic and there is a deeply ingrained cultural deference for clergy and religious. Previous attempts in the last 14 years to pass a reproductive health law have failed because of the opposition of Catholic bishops. Thus the recent passage of the ‘Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012’ (R.A.
10354) was viewed by some Filipinos as a stunning failure for the Church and a sign of its diminished influence on Philippine society. This article proposes that the Church’s engagement in the reproductive health bill (RH Bill) debate and the manner of its discourse undermined its own campaign to block the law. The first part of the article gives a historical overview of the Church’s opposition to government family planning programs. The second part discusses key points of conflict in the RH Bill debate. The third part will examine factors that shaped the Church’s attitude and responses to the RH Bill. The fourth part will examine the effects of the debate on the Church’s unity, moral authority, and role in Philippine society. The fifth part will draw lessons for the Church and will explore paths that the Church community can take in response to the challenges arising from the law’s implementation.

“The primary goals of the research were to strengthen collaboration, increase mutual respect and understanding between religious entities, governments and donors in three countries, and to ensure significant long-term contributions will be made to national AIDS plans through effective multisectoral collaboration. Research and consultation was carried out from 2007 to 2009.”

Global disparities in maternal and newborn health represent one of the starkest health inequities
of our times. Faith-based organizations (FBOs) have historically played an important role in providing
maternal/newborn health services in African countries. However, the contribution of FBOs in service delivery
is insufficiently recognized and mapped.

This report summarizes the USAID | Health Policy Initiative, Task Order 1 project titled The Role of Religious Communities in Addressing Gender-based Violence and HIV, which was designed and implemented by Futures Group International and Religions for Peace. Recognizing the importance of collaborating to prevent and reduce gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV among women and girls, the Initiative partners formulated the project to improve the capacity of religious leaders and faith-based organizations (FBOs) to respond to GBV and its links to HIV.