while working as missionaries in parts of the world with poor health practices and systems. In the past, seminaries did not teach anything to seminarians how to handle their sexuality. This was, according to Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, a "failure on the part of the church" that led to priests dealing with it in unhealthy ways. A 1972 report found that most a large majority of priests did not have a healthy sexual identity and were psychologically underdeveloped. Many dioceses and religious orders now require applicants to take an HIV test before being admitted as a seminarian. One of the first priests to gain widespread attention because of his AIDS status was Michael R. Peterson. The month before he died, Peterson and his bishop, James Hickey, sent a letter to every diocese and religious superior in the United States. Peterson said that by coming forward he hoped to gain compassion and understanding for himself and others with AIDS. Hickey said Peterson's diagnosis was a call to reach out with compassion to others with the disease. Relationship with homosexuality The church's condemnation of homosexuality, even while it provides care to AIDS patients, has been a locus of controversy with regard to its relationship to AIDS. Instances of homophobia, and related AIDS-phobia, within the Church have led to harmful practices and attitudes among some members of the clergy and laity. Catholic teaching on condoms and opposition to homosexuality, seen as exacerbating the pandemic, has led groups such as ACT UP to hold protests such as Stop the Church. Most mainstream AIDS organizations, however, have worked with the Church to bring an end to the pandemic. See also Islam and AIDS Religion and AIDS Notes References Works cited External links Vatican.va: Family values Versus Safe Sex: A Reflection by His Eminence, Alfonso Cardinal López Trujillo Caritas Internationalis: HIV & AIDS Catholics for AIDS Prevention and Support, a UK based Charity Catholic health care Catholicism-related controversies Religion and HIV/AIDS LGBT and Catholicism Condoms Religious views on birth control