| NEW YORK - May 16 - Social conservative
policymakers are facing an unexpected foe as the debate for federal
funding of sex education heats up. Religious leaders are advocating
for sex education that includes abstinence and contraception.
While sex education is often framed as a "morals versus public
health" argument, religious leaders are preparing to release an
open letter providing a religious context for supporting
comprehensive sexuality education programs and opposing
abstinence-only programs. Stating that "scriptural and theological
commitment to telling the truth calls for full and honest education
about sexual and reproductive health," the letter rejects the
notion that abstinence-only is a religious response. It was
developed at a colloquium of theologians sponsored by the Religious
Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing.
"There is a false assumption that the religious community is in
lock-step with the abstinence-only community. They are not," said
Debra W. Haffner, M.Div., co-director of the Religious Institute on
Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing. "This letter provides the
religious rationale for supporting sexually education-most
importantly offering young people the truth and helping them
develop a freely informed conscience. Programs that teach
abstinence exclusively and withhold information fail the nation's
young people."
With the House of Representatives poised to pass legislation
that trades medical accuracy and effective programs for
conservative ideology, many in the religious community are anxious
to voice their dissent. More than 2100 clergy, theologians and
other religious leaders have already endorsed the Religious
Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, which calls
in part for lifelong, age appropriate sexuality education in
schools, seminaries, and community settings. (For a list of
endorsers, visit www.religiousinstitute.org) And more than 850
clergy have signed Planned Parenthood's PPFA Clergy Advisory Board
Statement on Comprehensive Sexuality Education calling for
comprehensive sexuality education in schools and opposing
abstinence-only education.
A provision of the proposed House welfare reauthorization bill
would provide federal funding for medically incomplete abstinence
programs. The legislation is part of a larger effort by the Bush
Administration to increase federal funding for such programs by 35
percent. Typically called abstinence-only, these programs are only
permitted to discuss contraception as it relates to failure rates.
Expressing dismay at such an approach, the letter opens with:
"As religious leaders, we have a continuing commitment to the
spiritual, emotional, and physical health of the nation's young
people. Now we are called to join in the public discussion about
the nature of sexuality education for the country's youth. Strong
public health arguments support comprehensive sexuality education.
Here we invite you to consider the religious foundations for
supporting sexuality education-education that respects the whole
person, honors the truth and diverse values, and promotes the
highest ethical values in human relationships."
The letter was developed by Rev. Mark Bigelow, Congregational
Church of Huntington, L.I.; Rev. Dr. John Buehrens, Unitarian
Universalist Association; Rev. Dr. Ignacio Casuera, Pacific
Palisades United Methodist Church; Rev. Steve Clapp, Christian
Community; Rev. Dr. Mark Ellison, Bangor Theological Seminary;
Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Rev.
Dr. Larry Greenfield, Religious Institute on Sexual Morality,
Justice, and Healing; Debra W. Haffner, M.Div., Religious Institute
on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing; Ann Hanson, Justice and
Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ; Rev. Dr. Sheron
Patterson, St. Paul United Methodist Church, Dallas; and Rev.
Carlton Veazey, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
Religious leaders aren't the only ones thwarting conventional
opinion. The majority of those who define themselves as anti-choice
also strongly agree that students should receive sex education that
includes abstinence and contraception throughout their school
years, according to a 2002 poll of registered voters, commissioned
by the Othmer Institute at Planned Parenthood of NYC. In addition,
eighty five percent of all respondents agreed that students should
receive age-appropriate and medically accurate information about
contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
There currently is no federal program dedicated to supporting
sex education that includes responsible, age-appropriate and
medically-accurate instruction emphasizing the benefits of
abstinence while also teaching about contraception and pregnancy
and disease-prevention, despite the proven effectiveness of such
programs.
For a copy of the letter or for more information, visit
http://www.religiousinstitute.org or contact Tracy Zimmerman or Janeen
Lawlor at 202-518-8047 or tracy@publicinterestpr.com.
The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing
was formed in April 2001 to promote the vision and goals of the
Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing.
The Religious Declaration is a consensus statement created by
theologians and ethicists from a broad range of religious
traditions and currently endorsed by over 2,100 religious leaders
across the United States. The Institute supports an expanding
religious network of clergy, religious educators, theologians,
ethicists, and other religious leaders committed to this vision of
religion and sexuality. It builds the capacity of religious
institutions and clergy to offer sexuality education within the
context of their own faith traditions and to advocate for sexual
rights; and educates the public and policy makers about this vision
of sexual morality, justice, and healing.
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