The Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Zambia challenged by HIV and AIDS, which results in creating poverty among Zambian people

by Chimfwembe, Richard.

The writing of this thesis is to investigate the role that the church play for the people living with HIV and AIDS and are poverty stricken. This investigation takes us both into the role of the Roman Catholic Church of Ndola Diocese and the Copperbelt Presbytery of the United Church of Zambia are doing in the fight against HIV and AIDS and poverty. The problem of HIV and AIDS in Zambia, as well as Africa in general, represents an economic, social, moral, and spiritual problem of great magnitude. Never before in the history of the world have we faced such a pandemic which results in creating poverty among Zambian people. It knows no boundaries, leaving a path of death and destruction to all that treat it lightly. HIV and AIDS have touched every community within the global village. There is not a person that has not pondered on this terrible disease. The researcher’s question through this thesis is to find out the role of the church as it seeks to care for those infected and affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Can the church rise to embrace the enormous economic and social need that HIV and AIDS and poverty presents, can it make a difference in an environment of suffering as it seeks to become a healing community? This thesis is to enhance the response of churches in Zambia to the fight against HIV and AIDS and Poverty. Pastorally, churches have the duty and task to address issues of stigma, discrimination, judgmental tendencies and give pastoral care to people living with HIV and