While proposals for abstinence-only education are hardly surprising, what’s alarming is the timing of such a proposal and cuts that could have a dire effect on our nation during its current crisis. While the amendment failed, a whopping 25% of our Representatives were willing risk the welfare of America by voting for its passage.

Nearly as disturbing was the rhetoric spilling from the Christian right apostles that are representing the American people. In arguing for the amendment, Indiana Congressman John Hostettler quoted from a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) press release: “Many initiatives have focused on the prevention of pregnancy through abstinence and many teenagers have heard this message.”

He proceeded to purport unsubstantiated claims that abstinence-only education played the only role in reducing teen pregnancy in recent years.

Yet, he conveniently failed to read the next sentence of the CDC’s statement: “For teenagers who are sexually active, more are using contraception including the more effective newer forms.” The CDC attributes the decline in teen pregnancy rates to a combination of increased abstinence and increased use of contraceptives, not abstinence-only programs.

Comprehensive studies have repeatedly failed to show that abstinence-only programs decrease teen pregnancy, STDs, or even teen sexual activity. A CDC Fact Sheet on HIV prevention reports that in 1993 the World Health Organization found just that. A review of 35 studies revealed that sex education programs do not increase teen sexual activity and that “If any effect was observed, it was virtually always delayed sexual intercourse or increased effective use of contraceptives, including condoms.”

One study even revealed that “abstinence-only” education increased teen sexual activity.

Cheapest send flowers ukraine on ukr-flowers.com Programs that teach a balanced message regarding sexuality and prevention have been the most effective in reducing teen pregnancy. Contrary to the claims of chastity proponents, sex education programs do not tell kids to run out and have sex. Such exaggerations are meant to misinform the public on what sex education programs really teach and to give parents a guilt trip for wanting their children to be informed.

Sex education programs do inform teens that abstinence is the best protection. The difference is that teens that would most likely have sex anyway, learn alternative methods of protection.

A most impressive study was reported in Reuters Health in March, revealing just how much America is still in the dark ages. In the Netherlands, where liberal sex education along with free contraception is available to all teens, the teen pregnancy rate for 15 to 17 year olds has dropped to less than one percent. The pregnancy rate for American teens in that same age bracket is 9.9 percent.

The small group that continues to pursue abstinence-only education perpetuates the problem of teen pregnancy and disease. Proponents of abstinence-only don’t support what works. They support only what is proper, moral behavior based on their religious beliefs.

If no evidence supports their cause, they create it by taking things out of context to confuse the public and promote their ideology. The moralists who cry out the evils of premarital sex have little concern for the welfare of our country or the teens to which they profess to be committed.

While a sigh of relief that this amendment failed may be in order, the issue of abstinence-only education won’t fade anytime soon. According to a Public Opinion Poll by Chilton Research in 1995, as reported by the CDC, “nearly 80 percent of Americans believe information on condoms should be aired on television.” Nevertheless, the religious right has gained an alarming number of seats at all levels of government, increasing their power to enforce their ideology on American society.