A statement by Taiwan Lourdes Association in response to“Bishop Joseph Ti-kang's open letter addressed to catholic churches”

Dearest friends,

We believe that some of you have received a photo capture of "Bishop Joseph Ti-kang's open letter addressed to catholic churches." The letter is expected to be published on the Catholic Weekly (no. 491) on May 27, 2018. The letter was signed by the retired bishop Joseph Ti-kang himself. However, the Bishop is currently hospitalized, we are as yet unable to get in touch with him. Due to the close relationship between our association (TLA) and the bishop, we are shocked by the numerous misunderstandings in the letter toward TLA's work and feel sorry for this. We hereby put forward the following response:

We were deeply shocked and confused upon receiving the letter, as Bishop Joseph Ti-kang has been accompanying TLA since a long time ago. The Bishop used to stand firmly with us in providing care to the local HIV/AIDS community and has had close contact and exchange with us. On the road of Belief, the Bishop has always been TLA's guide. We still remember every moment when we went with Bishop Joseph Ti-kang:

Bishop Joseph Ti-kang initiated TLA's mission. In 1994, when Mother Teresa came to Taiwan and asked if any of the Catholic churches in Taiwan was offering AIDS care. The Bishop thus encouraged the Daughters of Charity to take the mission. Later, the Order sent Sr. Teresa Hsieh and Sr. Dorothy Folmer to the UK and Australia to learn how to care for AIDS patients. Upon returning to Taiwan, Sr. Teresa Hsieh was nominated first executive director of TLA and led the development of the association in its first decade.

Bishop Joseph Ti-kang supported TLA when its mission was questioned. When the Daughters of Charity passed the administration of TLA to the laity in 2007, the church began to discriminate against TLA. There was once a Catholic nun who came to TLA and questioned TLA on the legitimacy of using “Lourdes” since the TLA was not a Catholic group. When we got the opportunity to ask Bishop Joseph Ti-kang for advice, the Bishop responded sensibly that Our Lady of Lourdes blessed and healed every person who suffered. It was the blessing of Our Lady of Lourdes that we should not care about such unreasonable noise.

Bishop Joseph Ti-kang consecrated TLA's Morning Dew Farm. The Bishop cares very much about the residents of the farm who are often people in penal rehabilitation, living with HIV and suffering from drug addiction. Despite his retirement age, the Bishop consecrated the farm on the renovation of the farm's classroom. The Bishop often asked for the news of the residents of the farm and reminded us of the importance of non-toxic and organic agriculture.

Bishop Joseph Ti-kang cares for the development of TLA. TLA's team gathers each year for a two-day retreat. The Bishop has joined us, listened to our service report, and given advice for our services. Every year, at the flourishing season of our farm, we used to share with the Bishop the fruits of our service. The Bishop has always been encouraging and inspiring. His support has always been our extremely important strength.

Bishop Joseph Ti-kang has been an extraordinary spiritual guide who has accompanied and witnessed TLA's growth. Facing all the misunderstandings that are transmitted through the Internet, TLA, as a professional social welfare organization inspired and blessed by God, has the responsibility to clarify with the Bishop and with the public.

Caring HIV/AIDS, a mission based on justice and charity

It was due to the good deeds of Bishop Joseph Ti-kang that "Lourdes Home"was transformed into TLA and began its mission of HIV/AIDS services and started to serve people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in prisons and in hospitals. In the past 20 years, the Bishop has always been a wise and gentle spiritual guide who reminded us all the time of "the spirit of justice and charity"and of"taking care of the weakest sisters and brothers". Based on this belief, we have recently extended our services to the rural areas in Hualian and Taitung to pursue our commitment in providing community care for PLHA, advocate their basic rights and to eliminate the HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination.

A Shepherd must stay with the sheep

There are 99 sheep on one of TLA's AIDS memorial quilts. TLA has been accompanying PLHA as a shepherd, guiding the sheep to hope and compassionately looking for the lost 100th sheep. Over the years, TLA has accompanied LGBTs, drug users, women, and rehabilitators: they are our smallest brothers affected by HIV/AIDS. This incident made us realize that our companionship means also to suffer with them, just as Jesus was crucified. With the warming up of the same-sex marriage rights issue, the incident is just the prelude of the Catholic Churches' hostile reaction to TLA's support to the issue. But we will not shrink back. We will firmly pursue our mission to serve PLHA because they are our sheep, just as Jesus obeyed to God's mission.

What we must clarify in response to the letter

(1) Although the predecessor of Taiwan GDi Association was Rainbow Paradise, established by TLA, GDi Association was established as an independent national social welfare organization in 2013 and is NOT a subsidiary of TLA. On the premise of organizational autonomy, TLA respects the work and opinions of Taiwan GDi Association.

(2) TLA's Plus Radio is the first Chinese-language HIV/AIDS radio station in the world. Numerous HIV/AIDS-related professionals and peers have been invited to share the latest knowledge of HIV/AIDS and drug addiction. Ms. Me, the professional presenter of the radio was also awarded by CDC for her contribution to HIV prevention. It is simply ridiculous to say that Ms. Me advocates illegal drug use. It's also regrettable that some people take the program out of context and misinterpret its original meaning.

(3) TLA has been focusing with reason on drug addiction/recreational drug use issues. From the social work perspective, understanding and acceptance are the only possible ways to further dialogue, which only will in turn bring about change. Through understanding, learning, acceptance, dialogue, and responding to the life value and core issues of a person, it is possible to help a drug user to see their own values and motivate their recovery initiative. The understanding and acceptance of drug users should not be misinterpreted as promoting drug abuse and sexual promiscuity.

(4) "Lourdes Home" and "Taiwan Catholic Foundation of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia" were a millennium dedication to the Pope. It was NOT "LAUWULAU Home for The Elderly" , as wrongly mentioned in the Bishop's letter.

Acceptance does not equal promotion

TLA was transformed into an independent juridical association in 2007 and became a social welfare organization that is no more under the authority of the Catholic Church. TLA is still blessed by God and collaborates seamlessly with the Church to assist the younger brothers and sisters and take them on the road to life, hope and joy.

TLA has accompanied all those affected by HIV/AIDS and drug addiction for many years, but "acceptance does not equal promotion." Because of acceptance, PLHA were willing to continue to treat the virus till an undetectable level, thereby reducing the probability of infecting others and reestablishing a good life quality; PLHA's family and friends have learned to live with them without fear and anxiety; people who fear to be infected can get assistance easily and reduce eventual infection risk; the public can spontaneously protect themselves because they have the correct information on HIV.

Bishop Joseph Ti-kang's open letter has left us in deep pain and regret, but we will keep an open attitude for dialogue and clarification. We will also offer such suffering to Jesus on the cross. The accusation toward TLA is AN EXACT proof of HIV/AIDS stigma. We are grateful to all the support that we have received after the incident. It is still TLA's mission to be with our suffering friends. We will only consolidate this belief and continue to serve the youngest brothers and sisters.

Taiwan Lourdes Association 2018.5.23

More information:

TLA website: http://www.lourdes.org.tw/

Plus Radio: https://soundcloud.com/lourdes-fans