FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Fwd: [Hidisc] Fwd: Religion Press Release Services -- September 8, 2009

[Robert Tapp (tappx001]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Robert Tapp <tappx001 [at] umn.edu>
> Date: September 9, 2009 9:32:43 AM CDT
> To: Humanist Institute Discussion List <hidisc [at] humanistinstitute.org>
> Subject: [Hidisc] Fwd: Religion Press Release Services -- September  
> 8, 2009
>
> It will be interesting to see the numbers of parishioners in the  
> groups that support this and in those that oppose it. They claim it  
> to be supported by a majority. If so, why did Bush's abstinence-only  
> absurdity prevail for so long?
>
> It's also nice to see that the UUA is listed separately (rather than  
> being lumped together with <Christian and Jewish denominations>).
>
> Bob
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > Contact: Tim Palmer
> > (914) 438-4127
> > palmer [at] religiousinstitute.org
> >
> > RELIGIOUS INSTITUTE INTRODUCES GUIDE FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON  
> > PUBLIC SCHOOL SEXUALITY EDUCATION
> >
> > WESTPORT, CT, Sept. 8, 2009 -- The Religious Institute today  
> > announced an online, faith-based guide to help clergy, religious  
> > and lay leaders become advocates for comprehensive sexuality  
> > education in public schools. Just Say Know: A Faith-Based Advocacy  
> > Guide for Sexuality Educationarrives just as students return to  
> > classrooms across the country, and as the U.S. Senate prepares to  
> > vote on a 2010 budget bill that could end more than 10 years of  
> > federal support for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.
> > "Growing numbers of clergy and people of faith believe not only in  
> > promoting abstinence, but also in providing youth with full and  
> > honest education about their sexual and reproductive health," said  
> > Rev. Debra W. Haffner, executive director of the Religious  
> > Institute. "Abstinence-only programs that withhold potentially life- 
> > saving information from our children in the hope that they will  
> > delay sexual activity are not only ineffective, they are morally  
> > wrong."
> >
> > Just Say Know, available at www.religiousinstitute.org, is designed  
> > to empower clergy, religious and lay leaders to become advocates  
> > for comprehensive sexuality education in their congregations,  
> > denominations and communities. The guide provides theologically  
> > informed arguments for sexuality education, resources for use in  
> > worship services and congregational settings, and tools for  
> > advocacy at the local, state and national levels.
> >
> > The new guide is intended to help religious leaders and communities  
> > capitalize on the growing momentum toward comprehensive sexuality  
> > education nationwide. Nine major Christian and Jewish  
> > denominations, the National Council of Churches and the Unitarian  
> > Universalist Association have all adopted policies supporting  
> > comprehensive sexuality education in public schools. A majority of  
> > Americans of every faith, including Roman Catholics and evangelical  
> > Christians, also support school-based sexuality education.
> >
> > President Obama called for an end to federal funding for abstinence- 
> > only programs during the 2008 campaign and has made teen pregnancy  
> > prevention a priority of his administration. The U.S. House voted  
> > in July to eliminate funding for abstinence-only programs in the  
> > fiscal 2010 Labor - Health and Human Services appropriations bill.  
> > The U.S. Senate is expected to consider the legislation later this  
> > month.
> >
> > "This new resource is consistent with the administration's view  
> > that young people must receive the information they need to make  
> > responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health,"  
> > Rev. Haffner said. "The religious leaders who are part of the  
> > Religious Institute network support age-appropriate sexuality  
> > education that honors diverse values and promotes the highest  
> > ethical standards in human relationships."
> >
> > More than 1,100 clergy and religious educators have endorsed the  
> > Religious Institute's Open Letter to Religious Leaders about Sex  
> > Education. The Open Letter calls on policy makers, school officials  
> > and educators to provide comprehensive sexuality education "that  
> > honors truth telling and the diversity of religious and moral  
> > values in the community." Copies of the Open Letter were provided  
> > to members of Congress in April during a briefing on sexuality  
> > education co-sponsored by the Religious Institute and SIECUS, and  
> > in meetings at the White House in July.
> >
> > The Religious Institute, 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  
> > 4,800 clergy, seminary presidents and deans, religious scholars and  
> > other religious leaders, representing more than 50 faith  
> > traditions, are part of the Religious Institute's national network.
> >
> > #        #        #
>
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