Catholic, Jewish leaders call for increased care for people with AIDS

Published: 2006-11-09

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- International Catholic and Jewish leaders, meeting in South Africa, called for increased care and attention for people affected by AIDS. The International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee meeting also focused on "the need to expand and intensify cooperation between our communities," said a joint statement issued at the end of the Nov. 4-7 meeting in Cape Town. Cardinal Walter Kasper, the Vatican's top ecumenist, and Rabbi David Rosen, president of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, led the meeting as co-presidents of the liaison committee. The meeting's theme was "Dignifying the Divine Image: Jewish and Catholic Perspectives on Health Care With Special Reference to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic." This was the first time the Catholic-Jewish dialogue was held in Africa. Cardinal Kasper said it was important that venues for such meetings should not be limited to Europe and North America.

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