Customer Reviews

Scarlet Ribbons: A Priest With AIDS

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Do you remember in "X-Men (1)" when a woman gave a speech on future X-men, a Congressperson interjected, "How can we make rules on X-men if you are going to be so secretive about who is and who isn't!?"? This book takes that concern as its guiding light. Many people may whisper about the large numbers of priests who are gay, but few individual priests have come out. If many priests are gay, then they have HIV as a serious concern as other men-who-have-sex-with-men do. This book gives a face to two subjects that people want to avoid or tend to speak of in quiet voices. Father Simon has a distinction in that he continued serving once he was out as HIV-positive, unlike many other priests who retire and don't reveal their secret to their flocks.

This book was written by a journalist, Father Simon's sister. Relatives who cared for people with AIDS may really relate to her struggles. Still, I got tired of reading, "Here are some facts. And here are some comments from my brother's diary. And here are some comments from my own."

This book spoke of a different place and a different time. Britain can be seen as having better gay rights laws than the US. I think Britain's HIV crisis is not as intense as that in the US. The Anglican Church is huge in Britain, but Episcopalians, the US equivalent, only make up about 2% of the US population. When Americans think of gay priests, they'd probably think of Catholic ones, rather than Episcopal ones, first. Also, the US has had a major crisis over pedophile priests; that topic isn't mentioned in this book at all.

This book may feel dated as stronger HIV drugs were manufactured shortly after Father Simon died. Perhaps he would have lived if he had had them. There is an emphasis on "dying from AIDS" in this book and now many people "live with AIDS" via these new and improved medications. Additionally, this book may feel VERY anti-climactic. As a priest who supported liberal causes, loved dancing, and worked in the theater, the author makes it clear that everyone suspected her brother was gay, including her family. When her brother became shockingly thin and couldn't shake medical problems, it was just obvious to his flock that he had HIV. So this is not about a man who shocked the community by his orientation and health status.

The book is not a difficult read, but it took me forever to finish. I don't know these church members. I didn't see the British TV show on which Father Simon came out on two matters. Perhaps only Britons who saw the news segment will relate to this book.