Religious Leaders Support Abstinence and Contraception U.S. Newswire 16 May 11:04 Religious Leaders Support Sex Education That Includes Abstinence AND Contraception; Religious Community Not in Lock Step with Administration To: National Desk Contact: Tracy Zimmerman or Janeen Lawlor, 202-518-8047 both for the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing

NEW YORK, May 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- 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.

-- Maria (LMarEste@aol.com), May 18, 2002

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-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 24, 2003.