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As the AIDS crisis spread and gained momentum, Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish clergy in the United States and the United Kingdom became involved in sometimes surprising ways. Using quantitative and qualitative data from the early 1990s and from follow-up interviews conducted later in the decade, the authors show that many clergy became involved in the pastoral care for and counseling of people stigmatized by AIDS, including gay and bisexual men, despite expressions of antipathy from their denominations. Sociological theories concerning clergy roles, social movements, social space, and social capital provide a framework for analyzing the initial findings and the data from subsequent interviews. The study concludes that this small but dedicated group of clergy who ministered to the needs of this suffering population were part of a social movement that addressed a community problem despite both obstacles and opposition.

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Based on a 12-year study, this book examines the clerical response to the AIDS crisis.

ROBERT E. BECKLEY is Professor of Sociology and Program Director for Sociology at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.JEROME R. KOCH is Associate Professor of Sociology at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.