Churches should use their influence and their Gospel message as tools to help reduce the appalling stigma attached to living with HIV in many parts of the world, a leading church HIV activist told UK-based development agency Christian Aid this week.

Yesterday (1 December 2006) British Prime Minister Tony Blair, an Anglican widely canvassed as a possible Catholic convert when he leaves office, risked the wrath of Roman Catholic leaders by saying that religious groups need to face the reality of HIV and AIDS in their teaching and practices regarding the use of condoms.