Brian.MacLeod@f450.n250.z1.fidonet.org (Brian MacLeod) (10/26/89)
Today marks the end of AIDS Awareness Week in Toronto. Among many
events to mark the week, the AIDS Memorial was perhaps the one that
most fully engaged the public at large. The Memorial is constituted
of a set of panels on which are written the names of those known in
the Toronto community to have died of AIDS. The names are grouped by
year. The panel for 1982 bears a single name. Over 90 names are
already written on panels for 1989.
The Memorial is as yet only a temporary structure. It has been
shown twice previously, but for single days only and as part of Gay
Pride Day activities in Toronto. On both days it was shown out-of-
doors. On this occasion, the Memorial was mounted in the rotunda of
City Hall and was viewed throughout the week. It is hoped that these
showings will be the preliminary steps to the building of a permanent
and on-going memorial.
AIDS Awareness Week was marked in the Anglican Church by the reading
of the bishop's pastoral letter in all churches of the diocese of
Toronto. In part the letter said,
This letter could have been about cancer, or heart disease, or
many other critical health concerns in our society. Instead it
is about AIDS. It is about those infected by HIV and those who
have developed AIDS. . . .
We must deal with our fears, for fear surrounds the issue of
AIDS--fear of blood, of sexuality and of differences in
sexuality, of drug use4rs, of disease and of death. The Church
cannot accept the stigmatization, or marginalization, of people
or groups of people. Some who have been infected with AIDS or
HIV are considered "outcasts", or "lepers" in our society. Yet
it was with these that Jesus chose to be present--to touch and to
love. Through His love for them these women and men came to know
that they were beloved of God. All of them are our brothers and
sisters, people for whom Christ died, and Christ calls on us to
care for them as He does. . . .
Those who have AIDs or who are HIV infected need our prayers, our
support and our presence. So do the lay people, clergy, family
and friends who care for them. They carry enormous burdens and
like people with AIDS can suffer terrible isolation and
loneliness. . . .
The Church must think deeply about human sexuality, its
depersonalization and commercialization in modern society, . . .
[and] about social and economic injustices. . . .
St. Paul teaches that, "If one of us suffers, all suffer". All
of us are affected by AIDS in one way or another. I am asking
you to pray with me that God's presence and healing touch may
come upon us all, that we may stand with those who suffer and
that the Lord Jesus Christ will bring us light and hope.
Terrence E. Finlay
Bishop of Toronto
EN-BY: 151/1003 157/200 202/601 203/1 204/35 40 204 462 501 869 6969
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Uucp: ...{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!noao!asuvax!stjhmc!250!450!Brian.MacLeod
Internet: Brian.MacLeod@f450.n250.z1.fidonet.orgBrian.MacLeod@f450.n250.z1.fidonet.org (Brian MacLeod) (10/26/89)
Today marks the end of AIDS Awareness Week in Toronto. Among many
events to mark the week, the AIDS Memorial was perhaps the one that
most fully engaged the public at large. The Memorial is constituted
of a set of panels on which are written the names of those known in
the Toronto community to have died of AIDS. The names are grouped by
year. The panel for 1982 bears a single name. Over 90 names are
already written on panels for 1989.
The Memorial is as yet only a temporary structure. It has been
shown twice previously, but for single days only and as part of Gay
Pride Day activities in Toronto. On both days it was shown out-of-
doors. On this occasion, the Memorial was mounted in the rotunda of
City Hall and was viewed throughout the week. It is hoped that these
showings will be the preliminary steps to the building of a permanent
and on-going memorial.
AIDS Awareness Week was marked in the Anglican Church by the reading
of the bishop's pastoral letter in all churches of the diocese of
Toronto. In part the letter said,
This letter could have been about cancer, or heart disease, or
many other critical health concerns in our society. Instead it
is about AIDS. It is about those infected by HIV and those who
have developed AIDS. . . .
We must deal with our fears, for fear surrounds the issue of
AIDS--fear of blood, of sexuality and of differences in
sexuality, of drug use4rs, of disease and of death. The Church
cannot accept the stigmatization, or marginalization, of people
or groups of people. Some who have been infected with AIDS or
HIV are considered "outcasts", or "lepers" in our society. Yet
it was with these that Jesus chose to be present--to touch and to
love. Through His love for them these women and men came to know
that they were beloved of God. All of them are our brothers and
sisters, people for whom Christ died, and Christ calls on us to
care for them as He does. . . .
Those who have AIDs or who are HIV infected need our prayers, our
support and our presence. So do the lay people, clergy, family
and friends who care for them. They carry enormous burdens and
like people with AIDS can suffer terrible isolation and
loneliness. . . .
The Church must think deeply about human sexuality, its
depersonalization and commercialization in modern society, . . .
[and] about social and economic injustices. . . .
St. Paul teaches that, "If one of us suffers, all suffer". All
of us are affected by AIDS in one way or another. I am asking
you to pray with me that God's presence and healing touch may
come upon us all, that we may stand with those who suffer and
that the Lord Jesus Christ will bring us light and hope.
Terrence E. Finlay
Bishop of Toronto
--
Uucp: ...{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!noao!asuvax!stjhmc!250!450!Brian.MacLeod
Internet: Brian.MacLeod@f450.n250.z1.fidonet.org