FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Re: Fwd: Religion Press Release Services -- March 11, 2009

[Carol Koepp (carolkoepp]

Wow!!  That's really encouraging.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Tapp" <tappx001 [at] umn.edu>
To: "Carol Koepp" <carolkoepp [at] comcast.net>
Cc: "FUS Social Action talk" <fussa-talk [at] muusja.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 9:10 PM
Subject: [sa-talk] Fwd: Religion Press Release Services -- March 11, 2009


> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > Contact: Tim Palmer
> > (914) 438-4127
> > palmer [at] religiousinstitute.org
> >
> >
> > RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL FOR END TO FEDERAL FUNDING
> > FOR ABSTINENCE-ONLY SEX EDUCATION PROGRAMS
> >
> > More than 900 Clergy Urge President to Support Comprehensive
> > Sexuality Education
> >
> >
> > WESTPORT, CT, March 11, 2009 -- The Religious Institute on Sexual
> > Morality, Justice, and Healing today called on the Obama
> > Administration to end federal funding for abstinence-only programs
> > and commit to comprehensive sexuality education in the nation's
> > public schools.
> > "We urge you to help bring an end to sex education programs that
> > fail our young people, and to renew our national commitment to
> > education that honors truth, respects diverse values, and prepares
> > our young people to lead healthy and productive lives," Rev. Debra
> > W. Haffner, director of the Religious Institute, said in a letter to
> > President Obama.
> >
> > The Religious Institute also announced that more than 925 ordained
> > clergy and national religious leaders have endorsed its Open Letter
> > to Religious Leaders about Sex Education, urging policy makers,
> > school officials and educators to provide comprehensive sexuality
> > education that complements the guidance young people receive from
> > their parents and faith communities.
> >
> > The Open Letter states in part: "Young people need help in order to
> > develop their capacity for moral discernment and a freely informed
> > conscience. Education that respects and empowers young people has
> > more integrity than education based on incomplete information, fear,
> > and shame. Programs that teach abstinence exclusively and withhold
> > information about pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease
> > prevention fail our young people."
> >
> > The signatories of the Open Letter are part of a growing movement in
> > the U.S. religious community. A majority of mainline Protestant
> > clergy support comprehensive sex education programs in public
> > schools, according to a national survey released last week by Public
> > Religion Research. At least 10 faith traditions and the National
> > Council of Churches of Christ have policies supporting sexuality
> > education in schools. And more than 15 denominations and faith-based
> > organizations are part of the National Coalition to Support
> > Sexuality Education.
> >
> > The federal government has invested more than $1.5 billion in grant
> > programs supporting abstinence-only education programs, despite
> > growing evidence of the ineffectiveness of these programs. In 2007,
> > an evaluation funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
> > Services showed that youth enrolled in abstinence-only education
> > programs were no more likely than other youth to delay sexual
> > initiation, have fewer sexual partners or abstain entirely from sex.
> >
> > "As religious leaders, we believe there are strong moral foundations
> > for giving our young people the information they need to make
> > responsible decisions about their sexuality," Rev. Haffner said.
> > "Education that is age-appropriate, accurate and truthful is the
> > best way to assure that teenagers will make moral and healthy
> > decisions."
> >
> > The Open Letter to Religious Leaders about Sex Education, list of
> > signatories and the Religious Institute's letter to President Obama
> > are all available on the Religious Institute's web 
> > site,www.religiousinstitute.org
> > .
> >
> > The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing,
> > based in Westport, CT, is a nonprofit, multifaith organization
> > dedicated to advocating for sexual health, education and justice in
> > faith communities and society. More than 4,400 clergy, seminary
> > presidents and deans, theologians, scholars and religious leaders
> > representing more than 50 faith traditions are part of the Religious
> > Institute's national network.
> >
> > # # #
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> First Unitarian Society Social Action TALK
> To unsubscribe, update address, see archives of message, or subscribe, go 
> to:
> http://muusja.org/FUSsa