Indian cardinal directs clergy to treat AIDS victims with dignity

Published: 2004-01-05

COCHIN, India (CNS) -- A priest's refusal to allow a cemetery burial for a parishioner who died of AIDS has led an Indian cardinal to issue guidelines protecting the rights of people with AIDS. Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of Ernakulam-Angamaly, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, urged clergy and others "to show love, respect and mercy to any parishioners hit by AIDS," reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. His instructions, contained in guidelines released Dec. 31, are to be read at Mass Jan. 11 in all parishes of the archdiocese. In the guidelines Cardinal Vithayathil said AIDS patients should not be discriminated against in matters of basic church rites. He instructed clergy to provide people with AIDS the anointing of the sick and burial rites, the same as any other member of the church. He said that discrimination against people with AIDS violates the basic principles of the Christian faith.

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