"The churches have not always challenged as they should the stigma that is attached to HIV and Aids in many countries," he said.
"They have failed to say that those living with HIV and Aids are God's beloved children, with dignity, liberty and freedom.
"What is owed to them is what is owed to any human being made in God's image, and the more we are trapped by thoughts and images about stigma, the less we shall be able to respond effectively."
The Archbishop's short film has been produced in association with Christian humanitarian agency Tearfund and features 13-year-old Rachel, just one in a million Aids orphans in Uganda. Although so young, Rachel has since the age of eight been the single parent of a household which includes six younger siblings and demands a daily routine of cooking, cleaning and growing food for the family.
The film is included in a Tearfund DVD pack - Bring Childhood Back to Life - which was launched earlier in the week. The pack talks about the work that Tearfund is doing to help children orphaned by Aids find back something of a childhood, particularly through providing an education, nutritious food, medicine and spiritual care in a loving church.
"If I didn't have the pastor, it would be terrible for me," says Rachel. "When my parents died, I realised I'm left alone and as the eldest I have to look after the younger ones."
The Bring Childhood Back to Life DVD pack is suitable for churches and small groups and contains a detailed booklet full of facts and figures relating to those orphaned by Aids, as well as useful quotes, prayer and how churches can get further involved with Tearfund's work in this area.
The message is available on the Archbishop's website - www.archbishopofcanterbury.org
Further information about the work of Tearfund with the global church can be found at: www.tearfund.org
