Stories of faith and care.

WASHINGTON--The Faith & AIDS report, a joint project of the AIDS National Interfaith Network (ANIN) and the Public Media Center, represents the first attempt to document the compassionate and collaborative response of religious people to AIDS. It tells the story of the many efforts of congregation-based ministries, national denominational and interfaith-organization efforts, and partnerships with nonreligious agencies that have been part of the constructive work of people of faith.

Those in AIDS ministry frequently have to struggle with the fact that bringing up the subject of AIDS in religious congregations also means talking about the contexts in which HIV is transmitted--sexual behavior, poverty, substance abuse, and youth sexual activity--subjects many communities find difficult to discuss.

They must also deal with the ways in which some religious leaders have used the disease to reinforce their condemnation of homosexuality.

Since publication of the report in December 1997, ANIN has received numerous requests for copies from government agencies, organizations, and individuals. Copies have also gone out to all members of Congress, AIDS ministers, participants in a recent conference of frontline AIDS workers, national AIDS organizations including the National Catholic AIDS Network--concerned foundations, and the press.

The AIDS National Interfaith Network can be reached at 1400 I St., N.W., #1220, Washington, DC 20005, 202-842-0010; Web site: www.thebody.com. The Public Media Center is located at 466 Green St., San Francisco, CA 94133, 415-434-1403.