Who Cares About HIV? by Stephen Penrose

Author:Stephen Penrose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SPCK
Published: 2019-03-11T04:14:25+00:00

2 Physical manifestations of frustration

All our clients described experiencing, at one point or another, behaviour induced by anxiety and frustration. The most common were drug or alcohol addiction followed by one that particularly interested me: eating disorders. These took the form of overeating or comfort eating, but also, in a surprisingly large number, anorexia and bulimia.

Again, help from faith communities proved to be utterly inad­equate, with a complete failure to make connections between embodiment and the frustrations connected to the search for spiritual and emotional answers. Any advice invariably separated ‘body’ and ‘soul’ . In the great majority of cases, abstinence or asceticism was recommended as a spiritual ‘cure’ . A small number of cases resulted in the laying on of hands for healing or for exorcism.

In every single case, the faith story of the individual was neglected.

The spiritual and pastoral approaches employed in the attempted care of clients were not only inadequate but also damaging. The end result was a bifurcation between the subject and the content of their experience. The imposition of a ‘universal’ theological narrative (be it scriptural or ecclesial) contributed to clients reducing their self-definition to issues that were stigmatized or inadequately treated.

All clients, trustfully seeking guidance from the Church, were led immediately to define themselves excessively in terms of gender and sexuality – and therefore with HIV status – to the exclusion of any other personal characteristics. All clients were unable to relate to or appreciate what were (to others) their own very conspicuous qualities, such as intelligence, concentration, kindness or empathy. By accepting the pastoral stereotype, they lost the ability to value themselves.

They exhibited an inability to distance themselves from abusive personal relationships because of their need for approval in the face of feelings of self-loathing. A significant number reported a lack of motivation in the workplace. It would not be inaccurate, in my opinion, to speak of an ‘ossification’ or a blockage in personal development caused by the spiritual images pressed on them and the nature of the care they received. This was most notably demonstrated by the resulting inability to evaluate and reflect on their sexuality and gender in ways that would help them successfully integrate their personalities. Their identities were lost, and new identities conforming to traditional spiritual stereotypes had been forced on them.

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