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Philadelphia, June 2, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – President Bush pointed to abstinence as the key element in AIDS prevention in a speech on HIV/AIDS at the Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia on Wednesday.  “We need to tell our children that abstinence is the only certain way to avoid contacting HIV,” he said. “It works every time. . . we must ask them to lead healthy and responsible lives.”

Bush made the statement in a speech pledging more funds for the fight against the domestic and international AIDS “pandemic.” Calling AIDS “one of the great challenges of our time,” Bush said that “every man and woman and child who suffers from this affliction, from the streets of Philly to the villages of Africa is a child of God who deserves our love and help.”  Bush also emphasized the important role that faith-based AIDS ministries are playing in the fight against AIDS.  He said that America must ensure “that any organization that is effective in AIDS is eligible for federal help. . . People shouldn’t fear the fact if there’s a cross on the wall and an AIDS program in the building. We ought to welcome that. . . because the motivation by people of faith is a motivation to help heal the hurt”  Pro-lifers were disappointed, however, by comments Bush made supporting condom use. Referring to the success of the A-B-C program in Uganda, Bush explained that the name “stands for: Abstain, be faithful in marriage, and, when appropriate, use condoms.”“I call it a practical, balanced and moral message,” he said.  Even, Amy Coen, the president of leading population control group Population Action International, was surprised at the condom reference. “I can’t believe the president actually used the C-word,” she said. “That’s not one that comes easily to him.” She added, however, that “it’s one thing to use the word and another thing to actually fund it.”

See Bush’s Full Statement:  https://www.stlouisreview.com/article.php?id=6571   See Other News Coverage:  https://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4844180.html   See Lifesite Coverage:  Bush Praises Uganda Success In Combating AIDS https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jul/03071104.html pj