1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Tanzania Map

Breaking the Silence
Reverend and Professor Maake Jonathan Masango from South Africa gave a compelling talk about ending stigma by sharing images that most people want to believe don't exist. "Imagine a place where there are mostly children and all the adults are weak," he said. "Imagine a pastor ringing the bell for Sunday service and very few are coming forward. Those who do must walk over dead bodies to get to the church. The only cries that can be heard are of cows and goats and wailing children. What would you pray for then?" he asked.

Professor Masango said that the writing is on the wall. The church has a responsibility to help those who are suffering the most - women and young people - to have a voice and speak for themselves. "The culture does not allow them to speak loudly," the professor continued, "and individuals, families, and the global community are oppressing them from speaking. How can we discuss breaking the silence when those who are being silenced aren't even at this forum? Where are the young people? Women and young people are not here and have not been heard, so how can we break the silence?"

His remarks were greeted with sounds of approval. As he went on, he talked about the need to be more sensitive to people who are infected. "We cannot separate the people who are infected with HIV/AIDS because they are our own." Masango continued, "You need to read the passages of scripture about Jesus and the lepers. How many in your church have you rejected because of HIV/AIDS? How many have you told to be silent? Touch the untouchables before you say a word - and in touching you break the silence. Let's stop closing doors and pretending family and friends are dead. Let's stop playing God and judging others. Judgment is mine, says the Lord. The church has no right to sentence people to death by closing its doors to those infected. We will miss God if we don't stop and look at those infected with HIV/AIDS. We are all created in the image of God."

The impact made by his remarks, as well as the remarks made by The Balm team, the Prime Minister of Tanzania, and the PLWHAs laid the foundation for what the faith community must do. The Balm and CCT agreed to find ways to make testing equipment available, to set up counseling centers, and to train people to educate at the level of the diocese down to the grassroots level. The Balm's training assessment in Dodoma brought together more than 41 bishops and about 20 members from 14 different churches.

"This workshop has been a response to the government call that churches and religious groups should help control the spread of HIV/AIDS," said CCT General Secretary Wilson Mtebe. "Since the church has potential strength in the rural areas where the majority of Tanzanians live, the partnership will help those at the grassroots level."

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Tanzania Map