U.S. to End Funding for Abstinence-only Program
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11532568/from/RSS/
* Settles lawsuit claiming money was used to convert teens
to Christianity
BOSTON - The federal government agreed to stop funding a
nationwide program that promotes teen abstinence to settle a
lawsuit alleging the money was used for Christian proselytizing.
The agreement was reached Wednesday between the Department
of Health and Human Services and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Under the deal, the Silver Ring Thing program won't be eligible for
more funding unless it ensures the money won't be used for
religious purposes.
"Public funds were being used to fund a road show, really, to
convert teens to Christianity," said Julie Sternberg, an ACLU attorney.
She said the ACLU supports the program's right to offer religious
content, but not with taxpayer money.
Joel Oster of the Alliance Defense Fund, which represented the
program in court, said it was "pleased that abstinence-based sex
education programs like Silver Ring Thing will continue to have the
right to seek federal funding."
The Silver Ring Thing program, related to a Christian ministry
based in the Pittsburgh suburbs, has received more than $1 million
in federal funding during the past three years.
The program puts on shows at churches that include comedy skits,
music videos and a message of abstinence. Young people are
given a silver ring and decide whether they want to pledge to
abstain from sex.
In its federal lawsuit in May, the ACLU complained that the ring
was inscribed with a Biblical verse exhorting Christians to remain
holy and refrain from sexual sin. It also alleged that group
members testified how accepting Jesus improved their lives.
An attorney for the organization has said teens can chose between
religious or secular programs and that the program's religious
teachings have taken place separately from anything the
government funds.
The government terminated the grant effective Jan. 31.
A call to an HHS spokesman Thursday was not immediately returned.
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George W. Bush _is_ a Christian. Get over it!
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