What would you do if your pastor did this?

Question

I was watching Home Makeover last night where they built a camp for kids that were HIV positive or had parents or relatives that were. One 17 year old stated how hard it had been for her. She was born with it. At one time she was asked to leave a Sunday church service by her pastor.

I think I might have asked the pastor if I could speak and then let them know just what I thought of that and how hypocritical he was. It was a church for God's sake. Everyone is suppose to be welcome no matter what. If you do research, you cannot catch it by sitting in a church pew, hugging or just talking to someone. However, how many times have you been in chruch where someone is coughing, sneezing all over the place. You can catch a cold quicker than anything from someone else.

Answer 1

Don't know all the facts here, but I do know how I've seen the Christians act here when two of the young men went off to live, and came home with AIDS.
These two were not allowed to enter the church where they had grown up in.
No one would visit in the home where they were staying.
Folks actually would leave groceries and other supplies in the boys' driveway, and run like scared rabbits.
One of these boys was a former reporter for the Washington Post and the New York Times.
The other boy played small parts in many movies, including the movie, "Cry Baby." He and Johnny Depp were friends.
They were both considered respectable and accepted until they became sick.
The pastor would not allow either boy to have his funeral in the church.
The saddest part? These young men were brothers, and their parents were very faithful members of the church.
This is why I am not so keen on the Baptist church in my hometown any more.

Answer 2

I would definately let the pastor know he was not only insensitive, but ignorant. Unless the kid was biting people there was no risk of other's being infected.

I do have a mojor problem with sick people going out into public. I take immunosuppresants because of an autoimmune disease and it bugs me when people go to church or work with coughs, fevers, horribly runny noses. Don't they know they are poutting others at risk? Their flu's are more dangerous than HIV!

Answer 3

It was ignorance on the Pastor's part and a very sad experience for the person involved.

I suppose the logical thing would be to give the Pastor some info so he can make a better choice next time.

The young woman should have been received with open arms.

Answer 4

I would hope that a God fearing minister would not do something like that. If it were my church, I would speak with the minister to find out why he would do something like this. I would never put someone out in the cold just because of an infirmity and I wonder why someone else would.

Answer 5

I'd find another pastor and another church. Of course, I would also have a few select words for my pastor.

I would also probably turn his name over to the People With HIV/AIDS Coalition.

Answer 6

i would talk to the church and say to them how i felt and that it was very rude to do that.she had no choice to be born with hiv and it isnt even her falt.also god loves and welcomes everyone and that pastor should know that.

Answer 7

There just might be more to the story than what the 17 yr old said, don't you think?

god bless

Answer 8

I'm with you on this one, I would have stood up and had a royal hissy fit. Luckily, that would never happen at my church, or I wouldn't go there. Kinda defeats the purpose.

Answer 9

that doesn't even make sense, since you can't just "catch" HIV/AIDS .

but it does sound like something my pastor would end up doing , because he's really . . .queer .

Answer 10

i swear on my life i would give him a piece of my mind and make that church really regret that decision (through the media, of course)