The reality of the AIDS epidemic and indeed of all the other preventable diseases in the developing countries confronts us and all other people with immense challenges of care and responsibility. There is urgency for effective preventive measures to be put in place as much as the need to bring the compassion of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit to those in need and in distress.

The Christian response to disease, though, has necessarily to be a unique response. It has to be scriptural, theological, educational, pastoral and practical. The ten commandments must be upheld in equal importance, esteem and awe, much as the problems of human experience have to be studied and their implications to human existence, growth, extinction and survival explained to the people. New coping mechanisms that respect the human person, the fellowship of saints, the sanctity of of human life and the Divine Will have to be developed and liturgies which affirm and proclaim the good news of deliverance, reconciliation, love, mercy and health in its totality have to be put in place so as to address the spiritual, physical, economic and social impact of preventable diseases in our communities.

That is the reason why this book is significant - not as a blueprint of what should be done by the Church but as an important raw material from which we can construct practical, morally balanced and effective strategies/messages to deal with the terribly bad disease situation in our countries.

The ideas presented in this book are working ideas and proposals from the author. They do not necessarily reflect the theological disposition or the official inclination of his employers and institution. But, they are nevertheless important ideas which need our further study and synthesis.