The Abstinence Clearinghouse Blog

Columnist Marie Cocco has written two columns (March 31 and July 7) disparaging abstinence-only sex education programs, stating they don’t work for teenagers.

The Centers for Disease Control, Child Trends and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy — reputable, respectable sources — can provide statistics that support abstinence-only programs.

These resources have found since abstinence programs (education) have become more prevalent in school curriculums, teen sexual activity is down, teen pregnancies are down and teen abortions are declining.

Minnesota’s State Health Department just reported the lowest level of abortions since the 1970s. Education, education, education!

Those who critique abstinence programs as too simplistic, unrealistic and ineffective don’t understand the peer and societal pressure teenage girls face, nor do they understand the depth and breath of today’s abstinence training.

Teens are learning character development and goal setting programs along with training in how to say “no” and the building of social networks among peers.

How does Cocco know birth control is not addressed in abstinence-only programs? These programs can be as common sense as — she puts it — moralizing. It takes common sense to know abstinence works. It does prevent pregnancy and the spread of STDs 100 percent of the time.

Indeed, who other than those who will financially benefit could reasonably want more teen pregnancies and more abortions? Ask Planned Parenthood. They have even convinced Congress that the nation’s students need “protection” because they cannot control their hormones.

As a result, schools are told to provide “comprehensive sex education” or more accurately “condom-based sex education.” Before federal money was cut, abstinence education received $1 for every $12 for “condom-based sex education.”

So much for equal representation of a common sense plan that works 100 percent. Sexual activity is essential to Planned Parenthood’s mission, purpose and financial survival.

Let’s hear it for common sense!

Souce:  SCTimes.com