Presidential contender was only candidate to speak at international AIDS summit.
By MARTIN WISCKOLThe Orange County Register
LAKE FOREST – Many evangelical Christians have taken issue with Hillary Clinton for promoting abortion rights, gay rights and teen condom use, but you wouldn't have known it from the standing ovation that greeted her at Saddleback Church on Thursday afternoon.
Although all leading presidential candidates were invited, Clinton was the only one to show up for the annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church. She delivered a bipartisan message that emphasized the role of the church in addressing AIDS.
"Twenty five years ago when people – mostly young gay men – started dying of an unnamed disease, we didn't talk about it in church," she said. "We've come a long way. Not only can we talk about AIDS in church, but churches can lead the way."
The three-day event leading up to World AIDS Day on Saturday is part of Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren's global assault on the disease, with an approach that claims churches worldwide as the most capable network to address the problem.
Besides praising the efforts of Warren and his wife, Kay, Clinton acknowledged the efforts of the current administration.
"I will build … on the leadership President and Mrs. Bush have shown," she said. She has vowed, if elected, to double AIDS spending to $50 billion – a statement that drew applause this afternoon. Clinton also received a standing ovation when she finished her 30-minute speech.
Many in the audience remain opposed to candidates who favor abortion rights.
"From a theological point of view, it's very difficult to embrace abortion," said the Rev. Claude Terry, a 57-year-old Baptist minister from Modesto.
Then there were others who not only found common ground when it came to addressing AIDs, but also found Clinton to be an attractive candidate.
"Those partisan issues have no place when you're addressing a pandemic," said Mission Viejo's Christine Stevens, a 63-year-old Saddleback Church member – and a Republican considering voting for Clinton. "She understands the magnitude of the problem and what it will take to address it. I was very impressed by her."
http://www.ocregister.com/community/clinton-gets-standing-1930735-ovations-from
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DVD to Help Battle AIDS in Africa .
In 1993, I produced a documentary a film entitled, TRACY'S CHOICES. This is the story of the first person, in the state of Illinois, to be sent to prison, for the knowing attempt to transmit HIV. It's more a film about the choices young people make, and AIDS was the backdrop.
Soon after the release of TRACY'S CHOICES, I learned two realities. The secular world wasn't very interested in the Christian message, and churches refused to admit that activities, leading to HIV infection, could possibly be present in the church. So the program languished. Then a third reality set in. I thought to myself, and began saying to others, "TRACY'S CHOICES is a film that was simply produced too soon. In time, conditions will change, and a market will develop." Well, that's what seems to be happening.
A couple of weeks ago, I shipped 500 DVD copies of TRACY’S CHOICES, to an international ministry, for their use in AIDS education in Africa. While I’m very pleased by this development, TRACY’S CHOICES was produced, primarily, for showing to American young people, because as we say in the film, “It’s time we told our kids that some of the choices they make can kill them.”
Since the sale to Operation Mobilization, and my promotion of that event, I have been asked for preview copies by Urban Ministries, and The National Baptist Convention. Then yesterday, a large ministry in South Africa asked to become a distributor. To say the least, things are picking up speed.
So, I simply wanted to let you know about this film, in the event there are others you can inform.
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http://www.assistnews.net/strategic/s0107059.htm
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Sincerely,
Max Elliot Anderson
Producer
P O Box 4126
Rockford, IL 61110
Mander8813@aol.com
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