Chicago-area African-American churches are increasingly fighting HIV/AIDS stigma and aggressively promoting HIV awareness. As part of their ministry, some local churches have turned their attention to protecting Illinois' AIDS Drug Assistance Program. A state panel recently recommended closing the joint federal- and state-funded program to new applicants and starting a waiting list.

"Our response has not been as compassionate and loving as it should be," said the Rev. Stephen Thurston of Chicago's New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church and president of the 1.5-million-member National Baptist Convention of America. "We are single-minded in saving the souls of individuals, but not as open-minded in terms of saving that person's life."

African Americans comprise 38 percent of ADAP participants in Illinois, predominantly in the Chicago area. Blacks account for 36 percent of the city's population, but 55 percent of Chicago's recently diagnosed HIV infections, according to the city Department of Health.

US Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and colleagues sent a letter to President Barack Obama in April asking for an emergency allocation that would sustain the program.

In another initiative, about 50 clergy from around the country are backing the National Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act of 2009, which would include testing and prevention grants for public health and faith-based agencies. The measure also calls on President Obama to declare HIV/AIDS an epidemic in the black community. The Rev. Darrell Griffin, pastor of Chicago's Oakdale Covenant Church and one of the clergy supporting the legislation, said black churches should take a leadership position in HIV prevention.