Abstinence-only programs failing Texas Youth, say State Reps
"It's a safe bet," write State Senators Rodney Ellis and State Representative Ellen Cohen of Texas in the Houston Chronicle:
that most people who read the front page headline proclaiming that Houston leads the U.S. in teen births for young women under the age of 15 probably choked on their morning coffee. That was likely followed by what we felt — shock and disappointment, and then a need to do something.
"For too long," they state, "Texas has led the nation in teen pregnancies, teen births, and repeat teen births."
They argue that it is time for Texas to take a fundamentally different approach to reducing teen pregnancy and improving health outcomes for all teens.
In 2005, Texas ranked highest in teen births in the nation, and third in 2006. Currently, Texas follows behind Mississippi and New Mexico because increases in teen pregnancies in those two states have increased more than in Texas, not because of declining teen pregnancy in Texas per se.
"Texas relies on the “just say no” program in dealing with teen sexuality," write the policymakers.
Since 2000, Texas has received more than $1 billion in “Abstinence Only Until Marriage” funding, more than any other state.
"Unfortunately, during that same time period," they write, "Texas' teen pregnancy and birth rates have remained among the highest in the nation. There's been virtually no impact on the reduction in teen pregnancy and births despite more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds invested in teaching young people that they should abstain from sexual relationships."
The Reps argue that the Texas legislature must make passage of the Education Works bill a priority for its 2011 session. This bill, which provides for comprehensive sexual health education for all Texas students, failed to pass in the last legislative session.
"We should all agree that helping young people avoid teen pregnancy is a good thing and something we must do," conclude Ellis and Cohen. "The current approach is simply not working for young people, taxpayers and ultimately the state of Texas. It's time to put sound programs in place with a focus on comprehensive sex education because what we do know is that Education Works."
Crisis Pregnancy Centers Under Further Scrutiny
Crisis pregnancy centers are receiving increasing scrutiny regarding their adoption practices.
"They’ll tell you that you’re going to be sterile if you get an abortion," writes Serena at Feminists for Choice, "and that you’ll get breast cancer, wind up depressed and addicted to drugs, and find yourself living on the street. Abortion, depression, and drugs, oh my!"
Jezebel references the case of Carol Jordan, whose story was profiled in full in an excellent article by Katherine Joyce at The Nation and who when pregnant faced pressure by employees of a crisis pregnancy center to carry to term.
While waiting to give birth, Jordan was taken into the home of a "shepherding family" the agency hooked her up with, where — despite the fact she hadn't yet decided on adoption — she was referred to exclusively as a "birth mother." Says Jordan, "I felt like a walking uterus for the agency."
Yet funding still flows to these centers and the Obama Administration has not ruled out continued funding for them.
SEPTEMBER 8
LifeSiteNews: Hundreds of Pro-Life Demonstrators Converge on Vienna City Hall to Protest Abortion Party
Blog for Global Health: Small Child Survival Program Shows Building Sustainability Goes Beyond Health
CNS News: ‘Pillering’ Women
Houston Chronicle: Focus on abstinence alone is failing Texas teenagers
Catholic Review: Respect Life program for 2009-10 shows diversity of pro-life concerns
FOX News: Why Obamacare Will Fail and the Media Will Fail to Notice Its Flaws
The Bulletin: King Calls For Abortion Investigation By Department Of Justice
Americans United for Life: A Pro-Life Look at the Health Care Reform Bills Currently in Congress
Townhall.com: Head-counting begins as Obama prepares address
Feminists for Choice: The Crisis Pregnancy Center Adoption Racket
Choices Campus Blog: Let's Talk About Sex!
Daily Mail: Abortion adverts on TV are delayed following public outcry
LifeNews: Reid and Pelosi Tell Obama They Have Votes for Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill
KWMU Missouri: Anti-abortion group wants amendment to ban 'cloning'
LJWorld: Double Take: Boys direly need lessons on birth control
Wichita Eagle: Kathleen Parker: No tax money for abortion
LifeSiteNews: Commentary: Pro-Life Bishop's Contention that Kennedy Funeral Was "Subdued" Confounds Many
Daily News: Illicit abortions on the rise despite health risks and legal hazards
LifeNews: Los Angeles Times: Massive Tax-Funding of Abortion a Reasonable Compromise
WIBW: Kansas AG Raising Awareness Of Newborn Protection Act
LifeNews: Missouri Pro-Life Group's New Amdt Stop Funding for Abortion, Human Cloning
Opposing Views: Pro-Contraception Catholics Lobby for Laws to Reduce Abortions
LifeNews: Pro-Abortion Surgeon General Pick Unconfirmed as Health Care Debate Continues
Des Moines Register: Vander Plaats: No pro-choice running mate
LifeNews: House Democrats Key to Future of Pro-Abortion Government-Run Health Care
LifeNews: Writer: President Barack Obama Not Forthright on Abortion Funding in Health Care
Catholic Exchange: 88 Pro-Lifers Arrested at Notre Dame Still Facing Jail Time
Time: Germany's New AIDS Ad — Starring Hitler
SEPTEMBER 9
Catholic Exchange: Israeli Pro-Life Organization Warns of Demographic Threat to Nation’s Survival
Dominican Today: Pro-choice groups march to the Dominican Congress
San Francisco Chronicle: First death panels, next public option funds all abortions
Salina.com: Obama's abortion speech
Baltimore Sun: Abortion issue could thwart Obama's health reform goals
Jamaica Observer: 81% OPPOSED TO ABORTION BEING USED TO CONTROL FAMILY SIZE
American Thinker: ObamaCare: More Point and Counterpoint
Catholic News Agency: Prayer vigil seeks to keep abortion funding out of health care reform
