Darwin was not his given name. He was being treated for HIV/AIDS at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. As the hospital's senior chaplain, I visited him often. He was in tears as he told me that when his disease was known to his family he was rejected. When he went to church one Sunday, he was met by the pastor and two church officials at the door, and they denied him the right to enter the church. Again, he cried for being turned away.

As his condition worsened I visited him daily. As I entered his room one day I was surprised to see him holding a teddy bear in his arms. He told me that he wanted someone to hold as he died, and the teddy bear was that someone. A few days later, he died with the teddy bear in his arms.

I was disappointed to read on the front page of The Sun ("Teaching about HIV/AIDS in the church," Dec. 7) that some places of worship and some members of the clergy are reticent about "playing a role in HIV/AIDS education." Perhaps they do not fully understand the basic truths of our religious faith.

Clyde R. Shallenberger, Baltimore

The writer is chaplain emeritus of The Johns Hopkins Hospital.