Joint Letter to Congress on PEPFAR from Bishop Pates and Dr. Woo of CRS, October 2, 2013

Joint Letter from Bishop Richard E. Pates, Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace and Dr. Carolyn Y. Woo, President, Catholic Relief Services to Congress on PEPFAR, October 2, 2013

On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), we welcome the introduction of the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013.   We appreciate your leadership and bipartisanship in drafting this important legislation to reiterate and continue our nation’s commitment to combating HIV/AIDS worldwide.   

The legislation as introduced continues to build on the foundational goals and policies that led to the historic success of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), one of the most successful foreign aid programs that the United States has ever undertaken.   From its inception, PEPFAR has enjoyed broad bi-partisan support.  This political consensus must continue in order to preserve PEPFAR’s inclusive and multi-sectoral approach, which has given hope to so many people suffering from this deadly disease.   

The Catholic Church is a major provider of AIDS services worldwide.  As Pope Benedict XVI said in connection with World AIDS Day in 2012:  “I encourage the many projects in the context of the ecclesial mission that are being promoted to eliminate this scourge.”  Pope Francis certainly shares this deep concern.  As a Cardinal he demonstrated compassion for those with HIV-AIDS by visiting a hospice to kiss and wash the feet of 12 AIDS patients.

joint-letter-to-congress-from-dr-woo-and-bishop-pates-on-pepfar-2013-10-02.pdf