Preaching HIV prevention from the pulpit

Today, the Obama administration unveils a new plan to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in this country. Currently, more than 1.1 million Americans are infected with the virus, and infection rates are highest in the African-American community. African-Americans make up 12 percent of the U.S. population, but make up more than half of new HIV/AIDS cases. It seems conventional methods of education on prevention and access to medicine are not effectively reaching this high-risk community. Many people pay attention to words from the pulpit: In some communities, the church might be the place where HIV prevention can best be taught.

We talk with Marvin Moss, pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. In recent years, he has begun talking about HIV prevention and treatment on a regular basis in his church. We also talk with Kelvin Barlow, who was diagnosed with HIV nine years ago.