From: X045KF@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Kimberly Faircloth)
Newsgroups: misc.kids,alt.kids-talk,alt.parents-teens,misc.education
Subject: Re: Minors right of access to contraceptives?
Date: 13 Apr 92 14:42:10 GMT
Followup-To: misc.kids
Organization: Texas A&M University

In article <2531@keele.keele.ac.uk>
csz55@seq1.keele.ac.uk (Christopher Wrigley) writes:
 
>A G A I N S T
>
>       i)  The Catholic religion does not allow sex before marriage
>  and believe their children should not be exposed to this.
>
The problem with this, as I have experienced with my family members who are
Catholic, the children take heed to the "Contraception is wrong, against
God's command."  But totally ignore the rule that precedes it "pre-marital
sex is a sin."  So, what we have here are Catholic children still having
sex, but refusing the contraception, because it's a sin.  I don't understand
the logic in this.  Oh, and of course, if the girl is pregnant, we will make
everything "right" by having a shotgun wedding.
 
(*I am not intending offense to anyone reading this, who participates in
the Catholic religion.  The confusion and aggravation is directed towards
my family, who are just a group of hypocrits participating in the Roman
Catholic Church*)
>      ii)  The matter should be discussed _in_the_home and is not the
>  schools responsiblilty nor is it their right to address such issues
>  or practices in the school setting.
But what about those parents, who just can't let such words fall from
their tongues?  *sigh*  Just like talking to the children about drug use,
not discussing it is just as good as signing the child's death certificate.
They need a good source from which they can get healthy information and loving
support.
 
>     iii)  The school, operating in this way, is upholding the parents
>           constitutional right to control their children.
Then, control them.  The school is only doing this because the parents won't
do anything about it.  If the parents don't want the school to teach their
child particular ideals, then don't give a reason to do so.
 
>      iv)  Parents felt that the school was teaching the _opposite
>  ideals to children in contrast to the ideals encouraged in the home.
See above.
 
>       v)  Giving condoms to children _encourages more sexual activity.
>  It was felt the children would be more likely to abstain if the free
>  condom opportunity was not available.
>
No, it's saying..."If you CHOOSE to have sex, take responsibility of your
actions, by protecting yourself and your partner."  I was a junior in
college before I decided that I was ready to take that step, my mom was
completely open with me about sex and I learned about contraception in high
school and college.  Talking openly about sex is not telling the minor to go
out and have it immediately.  It is saying that the adult has faith in the
minor that if/when the minor chooses to have sex, he will make an intelligent,
RESPONSIBLE decision about the whole event instead of just the unplanned
"experimenting."
 
Kimberly Faircloth                |x045kf@tamvm1.tamu.edu
Users Consultant                  |kdf8236@tamvm1.tamu.edu
Texas A&M University              |kdf8236@zeus.tamu.edu
(409) 845-8956
"But Soft!  What rock through yonder window breaks? It is a brick!
           and Juliet is out cold..."