On 2/23, the ACLU reached an agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a case challenging federal funding of religious activities in a nationwide abstinence-only-until-marriage program, the Silver Ring Thing.
HHS agreed to stop funding the program which also proselytize to the teens.
Silver Ring Thing was profiled on the CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes and I use part of the program in my post “Religion can’t solve society’s ills”
Then the program was featured because in order to get its Federal funding it couldn’t talk about using condoms. HHS has passed on the false notion that condoms don’t work which is the highlight of many religious conservative arguments against real sex education. The story also pointed out that abstinence-only programs don’t work.
The 2/23 agreement was because the ACLU sued HHS for violating the 1st Amendment by having tax funds support a program that:
According to legal papers filed by the ACLU, the Silver Ring Thing describes its mission as “offering a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as the best way to live a sexually pure life.” During the Silver Ring Thing’s flagship three-hour program, members testify about how accepting Jesus Christ improved their lives, quote Bible passages, and urge audience members to ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into their lives. In addition, the official silver ring of the program is inscribed with a reference to the biblical verse “1 Thess. 4:3-4,” which reads “God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honor.”
Less you think you have to be an Atheist or other Freethinker to support separation of church and state. Air America hosts a show all about religion and the need for separation of church and state.
State of Belief is hosted by the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy and airs Sundays 5-6 PM on Air America
Gaddy, leads the national nonpartisan grassroots and educational organizations, The Interfaith Alliance and The Interfaith Alliance Foundation and serves as the Pastor for Preaching and Worship at Northminster (Baptist) Church in Monroe, Louisiana and is a past president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The show’s website http://www.airamericaradio.com/stateofbelief/ talks about some of the items I’ve written about here including the electioneering of Rev Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church.
If you can’t catch the show, check out the website.
