Protest Divides Vatican A.I.D.S. Conference (Press, 16 November 1989)

On 16 November 1989, during the Vatican's first conference focused on AIDS, significant criticism emerged from priests, nuns, and health workers who actively engage with AIDS patients. They expressed disappointment over the conference's failure to include the voices of those directly affected by the disease. Peter Larkin, a Catholic from London living with AIDS, articulated his frustration, stating, “I get a bit tired being told how I feel and how I think and I would prefer if people asked me,” highlighting the need for personal testimony in discussions about the illness. During a lunch break, approximately 80 attendees broke away from the main conference to hold an alternative meeting, which they described as a form of insurrection against the conference leaders. They insisted that Archbishop Fiorenzo Angelini should allow Mr Larkin the opportunity to speak. Previously, Mr Larkin had been silenced by Archbishop Angelini when he opposed a controversial statement made by moral theologian Carlo Caffarra, who has close ties to the Pope. Caffarra had denounced homosexual behaviour as "perverse" and rejected the moral validity of using condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS. Additionally, John White, an Irish priest who had been removed from the conference for displaying a banner stating “The Church Has AIDS,” was reinstated the following day after appeals from other participants. A prevailing sentiment among many attendees was the perception that the conference was disproportionately skewed, lacking a balanced approach. Cardinal John O’Connor, a prominent speaker who works with AIDS patients in New York, acknowledged this shortcoming, emphasising the necessity for greater inclusion of AIDS victims and more open dialogue. Robert Kuntz, the director of an AIDS centre in Miami, pointed out the need for the conference to recognise that AIDS could be treated more like other terminal illnesses. He remarked, “There are two diseases, AIDS and the politics of AIDS, and this conference is about the politics of AIDS,” underscoring the disconnect between the clinical realities of living with the illness and the political narratives that often dominate discussions surrounding it. The conference served as a crucial moment, illustrating the tensions between established Church positions and the lived experiences of those affected by AIDS, calling for a shift towards more inclusive and compassionate dialogue.

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