WASHINGTON—Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Chair of
the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Sean Callahan, President and CEO of
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), issue the following statement in response to
today’s action regarding the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
(PEPFAR):

Full statement follows:

“We welcome Congressional reauthorization of
PEPFAR, which has so far saved millions of lives, prevented millions of new
infections and supported 6.4 million orphans, vulnerable children and their
caregivers around the world. The action on the PEPFAR Extension Act of 2018 by
the House Foreign Affairs Committee and by the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee paves the way for final passage and for another five years of U.S.
leadership in the fight against HIV, TB and Malaria and the protection and
support of orphans and vulnerable children.

“Although we have principled concerns about
certain aspects of PEPFAR and the Global Fund prevention activities that we
find inconsistent with Catholic teaching and do not implement or advocate for
those activities, overall PEPFAR is one of the most successful global health
programs in history demonstrating U.S. leadership in saving lives and
safeguarding human dignity of the most vulnerable people. Through the work of
PEPFAR, in partnership with other governments and communities, the U.S. has
changed the course of the AIDS pandemic globally. Since 2003 when it was first
authorized, PEPFAR has received strong bipartisan support in Congress.

“The legislation also sets U.S. policy for the
support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Health programs
supported by the Global Fund partnership have saved 27 million lives as of the
end of 2017. Overall, the number of deaths caused by AIDS, TB and malaria each
year has been reduced by one-third since 2002 in countries where the Global
Fund invests.

“We greatly appreciate the leadership of Chairmen
Royce, Smith and Corker, Ranking Members Engel, Bass and Menendez as well as
Representatives Barbara Lee and Betty McCollum and Senator Cardin, for their
work to ensure that children were not forgotten in this bill. Saving lives and
protecting the future of vulnerable children is a proud U.S. legacy thanks to
the U.S. Congress.”

—

Keywords: United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops, USCCB, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Committee on International Justice
and Peace, Sean Callahan, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), President’s Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), PEPFAR Extension Act of 2018, House Foreign
Affairs Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, orphans,
vulnerable children, Global Fund

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Media
Contact:

Judy
Keane

202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops