Faith groups urge cuts to AIDS fund (Boston Globe)

[Eugene]

Faith groups urge cuts to AIDS fund
Allege opposition to Christian efforts

By John Donnelly, Globe Staff | December 1, 2006

LAKE FOREST, Calif. -- Some leading Christian conservatives, angry over the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS's promotion of condoms and its perceived lack of
support for faith-based programs, are pushing Congress to cut US support
for the AIDS initiative, which was initiated by President Bush in a Rose
Garden ceremony five years ago with a $200 million commitment.

The fund -- whose full name is the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis,
and Malaria -- has become one of the pillars of the international effort to fight
infectious diseases, growing into a $6.6 billion organization that supports
programs in 136 countries.

-snip-

But the Global Fund, which works closely with foreign governments, is not nearly
as popular among conservative Christians in the United States. Some take issue
with the Global Fund's policies, which include buying clean needles for drug users,
and many are furious that just 6 percent of its program dollars goes to faith-based
groups.

"There's cancer in the fund," said Peter L. Brandt, senior director of government
and public policy at the Christian group Focus on the Family. "It does such an
unbelievable job in discriminating against faith-based organizations."

-snip-

Nonetheless, Brandt said he wants the government to eliminate all spending on the
Global Fund's HIV programs because it is not providing sufficient money to faith
groups and has given little support to abstinence messages. Brandt said the
government could continue to support the fund's tuberculosis and malaria programs.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/12/01/faith_groups_urge_cuts_to_aids_fund

[Briar]

1. Well, that is one way to celebrate World Aid's Day

if a disgraceful one.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Whatsoever you do unto the least of these....

I've read the New Testament a couple of times, and I don't remember any of the words of Jesus saying that you should only support and help those who are like you--in fact, if I recall correctly, he helped people who the pius at the time considered outcasts....

[izzie]

3. Maybe the Shakers will come back?

--

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. "Faith based AIDS support" invariably means...

"You deserve to die a hiddeous death while the righteous look on and laugh, you God-hating sinner, you!"

:eyes:

[sarcasmo]

5. What the F is wrong with these people.

I am so sick of Christian Conservatives, they are sending this country back hundreds of years.

The Earth is Flat, will be the next stupid thing out of their mouth.

[Skittles]

8. brainwashed religious freaks

I suppor the right of people to believe in their delusions; it's when they try to push their delusions on me I get very angry

[TrogL]

6. Canada just pledged $CAN 250 million

no strings attached.

[sarcasmo]

9. Good for Canada.

[applegrove]

7. Turning themselves into the issue. Shame on them.