Respect for Life

ABSTINENCE EDUCATION

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 75% of the reproductive aged population are infected with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a non-curable sexually transmitted disease. This virus is one agent of cervical cancer. Condoms do not prevent transmission, and once the virus enters the body, it cannot be eradicated. The answer to this public health problem is obvious. That is why the federal government has invested $50 million dollars per year over a 5 year period for state based abstinence education. In fact, the State of Michigan initiated the Michigan Abstinence Partnership in the early 1990's. The goal was to make teen abstinence the culturally accepted norm. The result has been a decline in teen birthrates (19.1%), far exceeding the national average (11.9%) for the period of time form 1991 to 1996. Our young women deserve to be told the truth. There is no such thing as safe sex.