ACLU Applauds Fed. Govt's Decision to Suspend...Funding of Abstinence...

[Up2Late]

(Sorry, the full ACLU Press Release Headline wouldn't fit on the Subject line, I hope that's O.K., The full headline is below.)

ACLU Applauds Federal Government's Decision to Suspend Public Funding of Religion by Nationwide Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Program

August 22, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: [e-mail]

BOSTON - The American Civil Liberties Union and Jenner & Block LLP applauded the federal government's decision today to suspend the flow of taxpayer dollars funding the Silver Ring Thing, a nationwide ministry that uses abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education as a means to bring "unchurched" students to Jesus Christ.

"We are pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services today recognized that the Silver Ring Thing was blatantly misusing public dollars," said Julie Sternberg, a senior staff Attorney at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. "As we have said all along, it is improper for the federal government to underwrite efforts to convert teenagers to a particular faith."

In a letter sent today to Denny Pattyn, founder of the Silver Ring Thing, the Department of Health and Human Services expressed concern that the program "may not have included adequate safeguards to clearly separate in time or location inherently religious activities from the federally-funded activities.... Based on the information received to date, we do not believe that actual use of federal funds for its program adequately complies with Federal grant requirements."

"Today's actions by the federal government are a step in the right direction," said Daniel Mach, a partner at Jenner & Block LLP. "We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that taxpayer dollars in abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are not again misused."

The ACLU filed a lawsuit in May challenging the misuse of more than one million dollars awarded by the federal government to the Silver Ring Thing since August 2003. The complaint cites numerous violations, among them that the Silver Ring Thing's flagship three-hour program features members testifying about accepting Jesus Christ, quoting from Bible passages, and providing audience members with the Silver Ring Thing Bible. Within 24 hours of the filing of the lawsuit, the Silver Ring Thing substantially altered and removed religious content from its Web site.

Evidence shows that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs do not prevent teens from having sex before marriage. Moreover, research indicates that many of these programs actually deter teens from protecting themselves from unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases when they become sexually active.

"The Department of Health and Human Services was right to stop funding of the Silver Ring Thing, however, the federal government needs to take a closer look at its funding of other abstinence-only-until-marriage programs," said Carol Rose, Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. "These programs have been proved not only ineffective, but also dangerous to the health and well-being of teens."

Since 1997, the federal government has spent more than $700 million taxpayer dollars on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. In June, the House of Representatives approved an increase of $11 million for fiscal year 2006, well below the president's requested for a $38 million increase. The full Senate has not completed its appropriations process; however, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a $1.8 million increase.

The case in question is ACLU of Massachusetts v. Leavitt. No. 1:05-cv-11000-JLT. Lawyers on the case include Sternberg of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, Mach, Craig Cowie, Avlana Eisenberg, Victoria Jueds, Thomas Pulham, and Jessica Tillipman of Jenner & Block LLP, and Sarah Wunsch of the ACLU of Massachusetts.

<http://www.aclu.org/ReproductiveRights/ReproductiveRights.cfm?ID=18941&c=30&s_src=RSS>
(more "Reproductive Freedom" info at the link above)

[Chocolatebison]

1. So even under Clinton the Fed Govt supported religous abstinence programs?

Fuckers

[stepnw1f]

2. Oh Brotha (nt)

[depakid]

3. And that surprises you?

Clinton advanced much of the Republican agenda during his term- and as much as anyone, help to legitimize the extremist (and often irrational) agenda of the far right.

[barb162]

4. yes, including those stupid and disastrous trade deals like Nafta

[barb162]

5. I can think of one good thing about religious abstinence

Fewer fundies

Should have kept it.

[Kixel]

15. Ha!

Thanks for the smile today!

[William Bloode]

6. Good!

Abstinence till marriage is a bad idea anyway. What if you end up marrying someone you are sexually incompatible with? What if he has a tiny pee-pee and she has a giant hoo-ha, or vice versa?

Anyhoo, abstinence does not work. Safe sexual education is where it's at.

[barb162]

16. hoo-ha?

never heard that one before

[Rose Siding]

7. WP: Federal Funds For Abstinence Group Withheld

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/22/AR2005082201230.html

[Erika]

10. Bush is so screwed up

He cut birth control for overseas nations, instituted abstinence funds here, and he's now advocating what? How many days until he's gone? I do wish DU would put up a counter as to how many days we have left under this elitist.

[barb162]

17. the stock market watch thread does that every day

[Up2Late]

18. 1245 Days, 18 hours, 20 minutes

I have a counter on my home page

Here's a link to the Clock I use, I don't know if it been reset since November, or if it's just right on my computer because I re-set locally.

<http://bushclock.lose.com/>

[not systems]

8. "American Virgin" is a documentary about this bunch of slime balls.

It has been run on Link TV.

The leader of the group appears to be a likely right-wing
child molester and evangelist.

[jayctravis]

9. The more mysterious and forbidden something is...

the more power it has over people.

I have no problems with presenting mature children with the statistics that abstinence is the only absolutely foolproof method of preventing pregnancy or STDs, as long as this is taught ALONGSIDE real-world education in Health classes with reproduction and birth-control. It goes along with handwashing and all that.

Oh, and the first aid movies. Man, they scared the crap out of us with the "Don't trip while running a chainsaw" movies.

[Pirate Smile]

11. WP: Federal Funds For Abstinence Group Withheld

Federal Funds For Abstinence Group Withheld

By Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 23, 2005; Page A05

The Bush administration yesterday suspended a federal grant to the Silver Ring Thing abstinence program, saying it appears to use tax money for religious activities.

Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services ordered the group to submit a "corrective action plan" if it hopes to receive an expected $75,000 grant this year.

In a letter to the program director, Harry Wilson, associate commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau, concluded that the project funded with federal dollars "includes both secular and religious components that are not adequately safeguarded."

The action comes three months after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against HHS, accusing the administration of using tax dollars to promote Christianity. In documents filed in federal court in Boston, the ACLU alleged that the activities, brochures and Web site of Silver Ring Thing were "permeated with religion" and use "taxpayer dollars to promote religious content, instruction and indoctrination."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/22/AR2005082201230.html

[Zenlitened]

12. A group called "silver cock ring" is preaching abstinence?

That's just bizarre. :wow:

Seriously though, hats off to the ACLU for taking on this whole funnel-taxpayers'-money-to-churches scam. :applause:

[ourbluenation]

13. jeeeeezus - diet coke just went all over my keyboard!!!

Silver cock ring...makes me giggle!

[Zenlitened]

14. A keyboard condom might have been helpful there....

... but all forms of protection are frowned upon in Sexless America. :(

[kskiska]

19. Are the Bush Twins wearing silver rings?

I wonder what Dr. Dobson's opinion is of the Terrible Twins, and how they got that way, given their wholesome upbringing?

[klyon]

20. Busted .......They should have to pay the money back

That might silence them for a while.

KL