Interfaith conference on AIDS, domestic violence
Bridging Interfaith Network is holding a conference for women this Friday and Saturday on issues facing today’s churches. The group, which formed two years ago, allows women from all religious denominations to come together to give support and share experiences. One of the founding members, Carla Housepien, spoke with News Five about the meeting and why women who may be uncomfortable with topics such as HIV/AIDS and domestic violence should make the effort to attend.
Carla Housepien, Bridging Interfaith Network
“The conference will be addressing issues of HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, sexual violence, drug and alcohol addiction.
The conference is for women. It’s a time for us to be informed, for some of us if we’re already informed, having information on some issues. So it is going to provide information and add to what some women already have.
A lot of us, I know for myself, it is easy for me to entertain some discomfort. If I know that I may be helpful for someone, so if not for yourself take the courageous step to come for your neighbor, a stranger who is going to sit at the bus station with you some day.”
Housepien says the last ecumenical effort to discuss HIV/AIDS was three years ago and had the participation of the male leaders of the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist Churches and members of the Evangelical community. They have pledged their support for the work of the National AIDS Program. Representatives of the program will make presentations at the Bridging Interfaith Network Conference. It runs from five thirty to eight thirty p.m. on October twenty-ninth and from eight thirty a.m. to five p.m. on October thirtieth at the National Development Foundation of Belize on Coney Drive in Belize City. For more information on the conference or the Network contact Danalyn Myvett at 02-32727.
