Sexuality Education

Unmasking Hidden Agenda Behind Abstinence Education

In recent years, hundreds of millions of federal dollars have been poured into unproven abstinence-only education for teens. The programs have been proven to be ineffective at best and harmful to teens at worst.

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is a proud partner in the No More Money Campaign, which asks the governent to reject funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.

Abstinence is a healthy choice for adolescents. However, data has consistently shown that at least half of high schools students have engaged in sexual intercourse. While many parents teach their children the value of abstinence, young people need the information, skills and access to services to make and carry out informed, responsible decisions about their sexuality. The groups behind abstinence-until-marriage education—including the extremist Family Research Council and Human Life International—have another agenda. They oppose reproductive choice and seek to make narrow religious beliefs the law of the land. They don’t represent most people of faith, who overwhelmingly support reproductive options and accurate information about sexuality.

‘Gift of God’

Religious support for responsible sexuality education is long-standing. In 1968, influential Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish organizations released a joint statement calling for the involvement of religious institutions in sexuality issues. Affirming that “Human sexuality is a gift of God, to be... used with reverence and joy,” they advised each community of faith to provide “resources, leadership and opportunities as appropriate” for sexuality education in light of their religious tradition.

Today, support for responsible sexuality education is at an all-time high. The American Baptist Church, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church and Reform and Conservative Judaism are among denominations that have passed resolutions affirming the need for sexuality education, both within their own faith and in the public schools. These resolutions are often passed at the national meetings of the denominations and are meant to guide local congregational action.

All Faiths Support Sex Ed

A national poll of 900 voters commissioned by the Religious Coalition found that Americans of all faiths want responsible sexuality education taught in schools. Seventy-three percent of anti-choice voters, 73% of Catholics, 57% of Baptists, and 67% of Christian fundamentalists and evangelicals said they favor teaching comprehensive sexuality education.

Support is similarly high among Protestant and Jewish religious leaders. For example, a Religious Coalition survey of nearly 500 clergy showed that more than 90% believe individuals can benefit from discussions of sexuality issues in worship services, youth groups, religious school, and adult education. African-American pastors are among the most supportive; 80% agree that Christian education should include sexuality issues.

What’s The Difference?

Abstinence programs began in 1981, when the Adolescent Family Life Act was introduced. In 1996, the government attached a provision to the welfare reform law establishing a $440-million entitlement program for abstinence education over five years. Funded programs must adhere to a strict eight-point definition, which requires them to teach that “sexual activity outside of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.”

The effectiveness of abstinence-only programs in preventing teen pregnancy and delaying sexual intercourse is unproven. On the other hand, numerous studies suggest that responsible sexuality education that includes abstinence helps young people delay sexual intercourse, reduces the frequency of intercourse and the number of partners, and increases the use of condoms and other forms of contraception. Research has also consistently found that discussing contraception does not increase sexual behavior.

Religion’s Important Role

Churches and synagogues have an important role in sexuality education. They are the major community institutions specifically charged with bringing an openly moral perspective to their work with youth. While responsibility for sexuality education belongs primarily to parents or guardians, many families would like assistance from religious institutions in communicating values and norms.

Resources for Faith-Focused Sexuality Education

“Keeping It Real!” the Coalition’s faith-based sexuality education dialogue model for African American churches

Presbyterian Church (USA)-- God’s Gift of Sexuality: Study for Young People in the Reformed Tradition in the Presbyterian Church (USA), God’s Plan for Growing Up,”

Unitarian Universalist Association and United Church of Christ--“In God’s Image “ Our Whole Lives (OWL): A Lifespan Sexuality Education Series

The United Methodist Church--Created by God: About Human Sexuality for Older Girls and Boys, Our Sexuality: God’s Good Gift, Male and Female: Blessed by God

Allow Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs Expire June 30

June 6, 2007

Dear Senator,

We, the undersigned religious organizations, believe that all federally-funded sexuality education curricula should be honest, accurate, and effective, which is why we urge you to allow the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program to expire on June 30, 2007.

Although our traditions are diverse in history and theology, we are united by our shared support for education, health, and affirmation of sexuality as a sacred gift. We believe that sexuality education should empower youth to be safe, healthy, and responsible; therefore we support comprehensive sexuality education programs that teach the positive benefits of abstinence and provide accurate information about condoms and contraceptive use.

Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs deny our youth critical information that might help them avoid sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Given that about 70% of young people will have sexual intercourse before age 19, and 90% will have intercourse before marriage, failing to provide accurate information about pregnancy and disease prevention
represents a colossal moral and public health failure.

More than $1.5 billion in taxpayer money has been spent on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in recent years. Despite such a large expenditure, the vast body of research fails to show that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs actually help young people make good decisions in the long term. In fact, numerous evaluations and reports have found that these programs are ineffective, inaccurate, misleading, and are not receiving proper oversight. Thirteen different states have recently evaluated their federally funded abstinence-only-until- marriage programs and not a single one has found positive, long-term impacts.

More and more states understand how abstinence-only programs affect their communities and are simply refusing to participate in the program. Eight states, including Montana, now reject Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding altogether. In states such as California, Maine, and New Jersey, it is essentially illegal to teach these programs in publicly funded schools. All told, one-fifth of the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding—over $11 million—is now left unspent and an additional dozen states are considering, as Montana did, whether these programs are consistent with public health goals and mainstream values.

In addition to the millions of people in our faith traditions who favor comprehensive sexuality education, the American public is overwhelmingly supportive; 8 out of 10 American adults support the inclusion of information about abstinence and contraception in sexuality education courses for students in grades 9-12.

We stand together to support comprehensive sexuality education programs that respect and empower young people to make healthy decisions based on accurate medical information. In the interest of the health and well-being of our nation’s young people, we urge you to allow the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program to expire on June 30, 2007.

Sincerely,

Americans for Religious Liberty
Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network
Disciples for Choice
Disciples Justice Action Network
Jewish Women International
Methodist Federation for Social Action
National Council of Jewish Women
Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of Southern California
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
United Methodists Affirming Choice
Women of Reform Judaism

The 'Responsible Education About Life' Act (REAL)

Background
Since 1996, Congress has committed more than $1.1 billion dollars (through both federal and state matching funds) to abstinence-only education programs. Currently, there are three separate federal programs that support abstinence-only education. Programs receiving federal funds under the 1996 welfare reform act are prohibited from discussing contraceptives unless they are portrayed as ineffective. Congress continues to fund abstinence education despite research that shows that abstinence-plus-contraception programs are more effective in helping teens to delay sexual activity.

What Will the Responsible Education About Life Act Do? The bill would reform the abstinence-only provision in the 1996 welfare act to allow states to receive federal funds for both abstinence and comprehensive sexuality education, including contraception. Currently, these states can only receive federal funding if they agree to teach abstinence-only according to the 8-point definition in the law (list of the 8 points is below). Next year, Congress will reauthorize the welfare reform act and the flawed abstinence-only provision can be corrected.

Why Is The Responsible Education About Life Act Needed? While most parents teach their children the value of abstinence, they also recognize that sexual references abound in almost every aspect of our culture and that their children need accurate information to deal with cultural influences and make informed, responsible decisions about sexuality. With the REAL Act, schools would be funded to provide programs that have been proven effective by over two decades of research and classroom use. Responsible, comprehensive sex education also builds young people's capacity for making decisions, resisting peer pressure, setting goals, managing stress, being responsible, understanding and accepting diversity, and building healthy relationships.

Support for The Responsible Education About Life Act
More than 140 national and state organizations are supporting The Responsible Education About Life Act, including religious, medical, civil rights, family planning, educational, public health, reproductive rights, and HIV/AIDS organizations.

Religious and Religiously Affiliated Organizations that Support REAL
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Americans for Religious Liberty
Catholics for a Free Choice
Disciples for Choice
Justice and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ
NA'AMAT USA
National Council of Jewish Women
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options
Religious Institute for Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Women of Reform Judasim
Women's Ministries, Episcopal Church Center