The Abstinence Clearinghouse Blog

There are now more growing concerns over the dangerous side effects linked to the vaccine for HPV.  The vaccine targets four types of Human Papilloma Virus that cause most cervical cancers.  The Merck product was fast tracked by the FDA in 2006 and aggressively promoted in an advertising campaign.  However, a government watchdog group now says there are very serious problems with Gardasil including paralysis, convulsions and seizures in young girls.   This is extremely serious findings and everyone should heed them.  There should not be a mandate that  school girls across the nation be given this shot!!

The liberals say, “There’s nothing wrong with abstinence, as long as it’s done in moderation.”

Actress Kate Walsh has played a doctor on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice”; does this somehow make her an expert on reproductive health? Walsh, who sits on the Planned Parenthood’s Board of Advisors, recently hosted a congressional forum by the nation’s biggest abortion trafficer. This forum was advertised by PP as “Kate Walsh Talks About Sex on Capitol Hill: Actor Leads Congressional Briefing on Real Sex Education.” In the past, Walsh has described real sex education with statements like, “If you’re going to have sex, use a condom”. She and Planned Parenthood would like nothing more than to zero-out federal abstinence funds. We all know that doing away with abstinence programs will not lower teen pregnancy rates and will only squelch the most effective method of reducing risks. According to “Adolescent and Family Health”, 67% of teen birth reductions are a direct result of abstinence. The Medical Institute notes that “sexual activity places teens at high risk for getting sexually transmitted diseases–and using contraception does not eliminate that risk.” It also leads to elevated risks of suicide, depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and dating violence. However, there is another area of concern regarding this beyond the unsound advise given. Planned Parenthood receives over $300 million a year in taxpayer funds, and more than a few eyebrows were raised when the group used a free lunch to lure a large crowd to this event. Under new ethics rules, it’s unlawful for nonprofit groups to provide meals to congressional members or staff. How then did Planned Parenthood get away in violating government rules? In light of the organization’s latest scandals, which include fraud, criminal cover-ups, and clinic deficiencies, Capitol Hill’s time is better spent investigating the group than promoting it. And, perhaps Ms. Walsh should reconsider acting as a sexual health expert and go back to “playing doctor”.

Virginity is an asset that holds its value well.

Could it be — that the distribution of crack pipes to addicts in Canadian Cities to halt the spread of the disease is actually doing more harm than good but tacitly encouraging substance abuse? (http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jM4tV04harMjnRGTow1xr9qrJG_g)

Could it be — that by handing out condoms to children (with partially developed brains) that society could actually be sending them the WRONG message and encourage MORE dangerous sexual behavior?

Chief Supt. Derek Ogden, director general for drugs and organized crime with the Mounties in Canada said, “I just don’t think it’s helping.  If you’re just experimenting with cocaine and people are handing out crack pipes at free will, really I think it sends the wrong message, and could actually encourage the rate of crack cocaine use in the community.”

Finally!….some common sense.  Maybe he can drop Planned Parenthood and SIECUS a few tips.  Freely distributing condoms to children (that you say you want to protect from disease and unwed pregnancy) is actually encouraging them to become sexual active and put themselves at risk!!!! 

“The cost of teen sex is always more expensive than advertised.”

Dan Bailey, Executive Director of Just Say Yes

Richard Urban of ULTRA Teen Choice wrote the following article regarding the recent hearings in DC on abstinence.

Congresswoman Norton Shows Lack of Respect for Values of DC Public School Parents
 

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton asserted during the Committee on Oversight and Government reform hearing on April 23, 2008 concerning abstinence centered programs that she did not agree with an exclusive “one size fits all” approach to sexual health education.  I couldn’t agree more.  She also asserted that abstinence educators would be “laughed out of the classroom where students already had sex”.  The latter statement is totally false, in my experience.  Youth from 7^th grade to 12^th grade are grateful to hear that they don’t need to have sex, and that the majority of their peers are not having sex.  In fact, 16 percent more Washington DC high school youth were abstaining from sex in 2005 than in 2003, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.  This kind of attitude denigrates the rights and values of Washington, DC youth

It is very ironic that ULTRA Teen Choice, the program that my wife and I co-founded, has been banned from DC Public schools.  We provide a choice for those students who wish to stay sexually abstinent and drug free to have peer support, medically accurate information and a place where their values are reinforced.  Our situation shows that it is a sham to say that hearings such as the above mentioned oversight hearing are actually about balanced scientific information. The “expert” panel was stacked five to one with abstinence opponents.  And speaking about exclusivity, that definitely applies to DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, who has worked hard to have the ULTRA Teen Choice program expelled, claiming last November that ULTRA Teen Choice did not comply to health standards, which is false, that there was a moratorium on all outside providers of health services, which is false, that we did not meet the Chancellors goal of promotion of homosexual lifestyles, and that we promote abstinence until marriage, which apparently also does not meet the Chancellors’ “diversity” goals.

If Ms Norton is serious about giving youth more “choices”, and avoiding “exclusivity”, then she should stand up for the rights of DC youth to choose abstinence and speak out against Chancellor Rhee’s sham expulsion of ULTRA Teen Choice from DC Public Schools.  Sixteen percent more Washington DC high school youth were abstaining from sex in 2005 than in 2003, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Congresswoman Norton should also be glad to fund programs that are directive and abstinence centered.  These programs help youth to understand why abstinence is a positive choice while providing training in relationship skills and refusal skills, while discussing life goals and medically accurate information on sexual health.  Many abstinence centered programs also provide peer support for those who wish to stay abstinent.

80% of babies aborted are from unwed mothers.  Save a baby by saving sex!! 

The recent headlines concerning abstinence issues resemble a veritable table tennis game of reporting. “Abstinence Only Not Working, Feds Say.” “Abstinence program successes.” “Experts say US sex abstinence program doesn’t work.” Back and forth. Back and forth.

Each side comes prepared with experts, testimonials, expert testimonials, and statistics (many times both sides coming with the same statistics) and asks the public to make their decision, to pick a side, to join a cause, to support a movement.

Each side makes their arguments, and they make them well. Each side has someone influential to quote.

In reference to federally funded abstinence only programs, Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood, was quoted by the BBC as saying, “We’ve been wasting money on programs that don’t work and we’re seeing the consequences every single day.”

I’ll admit that, at times, I find myself a bit overwhelmed from the influx of information but then I read a quote like the one above and I step back and look at the reality of the world immediately around me and I know that, regardless of the statistics and percentages and quotes that the experts use to say that abstinence doesn’t work, I see my friends dealing with the consequences of indulgence and I don’t need any more proof than that.

I see a friend struggling to make sense of a relationship where the physical aspect of it is almost like an addiction, a trap, and I hurt for that friend because there is nothing I can do to help fix that part of the problem - that bed was made and lain in and now there is confusion and hurt.

Ms. Richards, these are the consequences that I see every day.

My personal experience, others personal experiences, may not count when it comes time to reporting statistics and quotes from experts but they do count when it comes time to living life out in a world where people’s hearts are being broken.

There are very few books written that deal with abstinence and abstinence related issues, plain and simple, which is why I was greatly intrigued by Tom Perrotta’s book, The Abstinence Teacher. I was convinced that I had struck literary gold as I made my way to the great American institution that is the public library and checked out my very own copy. After all, with all of the press and media coverage surrounding the controversial topic of sex education in schools, to abstain or not to abstain, I couldn’t think of a better book to get my hands on than one so entitled.

And I was partly right. Mechanically, Perrotta’s sixth fiction novel is a treasure. The story is engaging, the writing is remarkable, and Perrotta’s ability to capture the heartbeat of suburbia with his words is more than impressive.

However, the actual story within was not what I had expected. I suppose I had expected to find that the main plot of the story dealt with the issue of teaching abstinence or some sort of struggle that arose for the characters concerning the issue of abstinence education within the classroom. This plot, while it does exist, is more of a catalyst though in that it serves to create situations for characters to connect with one another, but that is not to say that Perrotta does not deal with the issue of abstinence; in fact, one of the main characters, Tim, struggles throughout the novel with abstaining not only from sex, but also from pitfalls of his past life, including drugs and alcohol.

For the active reader, Perrotta’s novel is an excellent exercise for the mind. Ruth, the main character, who is “the abstinence teacher,” has been informed that she will teach the new abstinence curriculum or she will no longer be the human sexuality teacher at the local high school. She agrees to teach it but her opposition to the abstinence message is clear and I found myself engaged in an internal debate with her character throughout the novel, reacting to her comments and opinions with ones of my own.

The Abstinence Teacher is a great novel for the casual reader because it is exceptionally written and the characters and plot lines are engaging but it is best read by someone who is willing to exert some mental energy in order to fully appreciate the complexities of the characters and Perrotta’s powerful themes and subtle imagery. However, Perrotta’s gift of description coupled with the sexual nature of the subject matter leaves, at times, very little to the imagination and, subsequently, makes this a book for the mature reader.

On April 29th, Planned Parenthood sent out an email calling out to its supporters to join them in challenging Presidential candidates to talk about sex.  They say, “given that it’s also hard for parents to talk with their children about sex, I guess it’s not all that surprising” (that Presidential candidates can’t talk about it).  They are asking for 1 Million “strong, caring, fed-up people who aren’t afraid to talk about sex,” to sign onto their letter by November 4th this year. 

You see, this is what is wrong with the teens today.  Planned Parenthood (and everyone else they have in their pocket) talks about sex, all the time, every corner you turn, every magazine cover, music, internet….you can’t get away from the descriptive images of sex.  They burn it into kids brains like its the only way for them to be.  Kids have very little concept of what healthy relationships look like.  If they don’t see it at home, they are almost guaranteed NOT to see it anywhere else, accept in abstinence education courses which are so far outfunded by contraceptive programs its ridiculous.  I guess Planned Parenthood is getting exactly what they want: more failed contraception causing more unwed pregnancies to abort (more money) and more STD’s to treat.

Abstinence educators: Keep up the good work you are doing.  You are making a dent into the Planned Parenthood philosophy of sexualizing our kids.  Kids are listening to you.  Every child you reach, reaches another child and another and another.  Kids are banding together in opposition to Planned Parenthood and their life destroying message of condoms and contraceptives.  Planned Parenthood can criticize abstinence education programs as much as they want but they can’t criticize the kids raising up against them because of their failed message.

Recently an article appeared in BBC News regarding the HPV vaccinations.  It stated that nearly three in 10 parents failed to agree to their children receiving the new cervical cancer vaccine during a trial.  One in five parents did not return consent forms, while 8% sent a refusal letter. The British Medical Journal study was carried out by Manchester University.

A man’s character is his fate.  Too many submit to the fate of their own free will.

Steven Ertelt of LifeNews.com wrote a great article regarding the recent congregational hearings on abstinence funding.  Please go to the following link and read it.  I think you will find it very informative.  http://www.lifenews.com/nat3887.html    

Check out the video of the hearing

Click here to view

I recently received the following email.  Thought many of you would enjoy it.  Read on–

In the congressional hearings held last week, comprehensive sex education supporters would like you to believe that “abstinence-only-until marriage programs simply do not work” (James Wagoner, presient of Advocates for Youth). 

However, the day before the hearings, the Heritage Foundation released a review of 21 studies of abstinence programs, 16 of which showed positive results, such as the delay or reduction of sexual activity.

We must make sure that the abstinence funding streams continue.

Can you believe this?  In Bisbee, Arizona, against the wishes of several parents, the local Bisbee School  Board voted 4-1 to in clude condoms in the “prom bags” it gives away to teenagers at the annual dance.  By doing so, they gave their blessing to a night of sexual indulgence.   The local paper covered this news with the following nonchalant report.  “Students attending the Bisbee High School Prom will  be given bags containing picture frames, candles, mints, and two condoms.”  Residents of the town were a little less reserved. Quotes included, ”All that the policy does is condone and approve short-term, immediate satisfaction”; other quotes included that the board was “short-sighted” and “residents are appalled that this was their tax dollars at work”.  This decision simply turns a high school dance into a teenage sex fest!!!   Not only is this deplorable, but gives the kids a false sense of secuirty and a demaning message about sexual intregrity.  This undermines the values that most children are taught at home!!  It’s time the people of this city tell the members of the school board that they are to teach their children not raise them. If you would like to let the administrators of the school know how you feel about this issue, email Bisbee Superintendent Paul Mc Donald at pmcdonald@bsd.k12.az.us.  If it can happen in Bisbee, can it happen in a school near you? 

The Committee held a hearing titled, “Domestic Abstinence-Only Programs: Assessing the Evidence” on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.  Federally-funded abstinence-only programs require the exclusive teaching of abstinence until marriage and prohibit teaching about condoms or other contraceptives — other than to discuss failure rates. These programs have received over $1.3 billion in federal funding over the past decade. Medical and scientific experts, as well as youth educators, testified regarding the public health evidence of the effectiveness of abstinence-only programs and of more comprehensive programs.

Here are the experts:
 
* The Honorable Lois Capps, U.S. Representative (CA-23)
* The Honorable Sam Brownback, U.S. Senator (KS)
* Ms. Shelby Knox, Youth Speaker
* Mr. Max Siegel, Policy Associate, AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth, and Families
* Dr. Georges Benjamin, M.D., Executive Director, American Public Health Association
* Dr. Margaret Blythe, M.D., Chair, Committee on Adolescence, American Academy of Pediatrics
* Dr. John Santelli, M.D., M.P.H., Department Chair, Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
* Dr. Stan Weed, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Research and Evaluation
* Mr. Charles Keckler, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
* Dr. Harvey Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D., President, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
* Dr. Marcia Crosse, Director, Healthcare, U.S. Government Accountability Office
 

Free love is expensive!!