differences in the fight against the killer AIDS virus.

Parish priest at St. Mark's Church, Smith's, Fr. Bob Thacker warned: "We can be seduced into competition and condemnation of each other when our loved ones and children die of the very disease we are arguing about.'' Fr. Thacker was speaking at an ecumenical service at Hamilton's Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity to mark World AIDS Day.

More than 200 people of all denominations took part in the service. Health Minister Harry Soares and Shadow Health Minister Renee Webb MP both read lessons. Many wiped away tears when Fr. Thacker asked members of the congregation to hug each other to show a unity which crossed barriers of race, sex and religion.

Fr. Thacker told the congregation that there had been controversy over the Catholic Church's stand against the use of condoms, which are promoted world-wide as a protection against HIV infection.

He said some churches had been worried that participation in the service meant approval of some lifestyles, while members of the gay community had feared that the service could be used by hard-line clerics as a platform for condemnation.

But Fr. Thacker said: "We disagree on some things, but we share a common concern. All are touched by this disease.'' He added: "We all hurt and we all need each other -- we have a shared right to to compassion and love and we have a shared responsibility to love and care for one another. Let us create unity while respecting our differences -- let's face this together.''