Posted on 05/13/2005 8:40:19 AM PDT by Phantom Lord
Abstinence speaker pushed religion in school, dad charges
An irate father is demanding that Bozeman High School present students with a rebuttal to what he called "extremely biased religious dogma" delivered by an assembly speaker who warned teens against the dangers of drugs, drinking and premarital sex.
Tom Wells, a Bozeman attorney and father of a ninth-grader, told the School Board on Monday night that he was appalled by the "thinly veiled ministry" and "misinformation" presented the week before by speaker Tina Marie Holewinski.
Holewinski, 27, of Hollywood, Calif., a full-time speaker with an organization called True Lies, defended her talk Tuesday as full of "hard-core facts" that could save teenagers' lives.
She denied that she interjected any of her religious beliefs in the talk, and added she'd been flooded with e-mail messages from grateful teens.
Principal Godfrey Saunders said Holewinski had presented the messages school officials are most concerned about each spring, with prom and graduation approaching -- Don't drink, drink and drive, don't use drugs.
But, Saunders said, she had gone beyond what they were expecting to present her own views about abstinence.
Saunders said he had spoken to students through the school intercom the next morning to say that what Holewinski discussed about condoms and birth control pills isn't what is taught in the school's sex-ed curriculum, though it also emphasizes abstinence.
"She went off-message," Superintendent Mike Redburn said. "We share (Wells') concerns."
Wells demanded the school give equal time to rebut the "misinformation" his son heard: that condoms lead to cancer, that birth control pills are only 20 percent effective, that sexually transmitted diseases are spread by skin contact alone, that third-trimester fetuses can be aborted, that video games lead to homicide, that human papilloma virus can be transferred through condoms and that teens can achieve "second virginity" through abstinence.
Holewinski responded that she spoke mainly against against drugs, drinking and driving, and debunked "the media's" glamorization of sex, alcohol, drugs and violence.
She maintained it's true that there are cancer-causing agents in latex condoms; that 80 percent of teenage girls who seek abortions are already on birth-control pills; and that human papilloma virus is small enough to pass through condoms. She said she does promote the idea of second virginity.
The school paid Holewinski paid $1,500 for her talk and expenses.
Pat Strauss, assistant principal, said much of Holewinski's talk did cover what they'd asked for, but then all of a sudden she'd throw in zingers, like condoms have 15 different carcinogens, or that birth control pills cause cervical cancer or sterility.
The reaction from the 1,800 students was split 50/50, he said. Some teachers said the talk prompted some lively discussions.
"We tried to do something good for our kids -- be safe, get everybody through graduation," Strauss said. "That's what's most disappointing."
A cursory review of Internet sites on just one of Holewinski's disputed topics turned up numerous sites asserting condoms are linked to cancer; however, the pro-condom Planned Parenthood site contends that abstinence-only supporters have put out a number of myths about condoms over the years.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site doesn't discuss any condom-cancer link. It does say, "a condom could save your life" by greatly reducing the chances of getting sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS. It adds, "sex with condoms isn't totally 'safe sex,' but it is 'less risky' sex."
Abstinence-only supporters are the most self-righteous group of puritans you could ever run across. We ought to take them and the freaks "debating" evolution in Kansas and consign them to an island somewhere.
that condoms lead to cancer
Latex contains carcinogens. "Lead to cancer" is a leap from that, but no worse than the junk science that has banned dozens of useful products
that birth control pills are only 20 percent effective
Inaccurate as stated, but "user error" among teens is enormous.
that sexually transmitted diseases are spread by skin contact alone
Some are.
that third-trimester fetuses can be aborted
Absolutely true.
that video games lead to homicide
It's been used as a homicide defense!
that human papilloma virus can be transferred through condoms
And also by genital contact without penetration, from areas not covered by condoms.
and that teens can achieve "second virginity" through abstinence.
Uh, no. Once you've done it, you've done it. A person can resume chastity at any time, but virginity doesn't come back.
Okay, which island are you going to send us to? Will you pay for the tickets?
What's wrong with promoting abstinence-only? It's a great pre-emptive solution for those seeking to grow the spiritual fruit of self-control.
Re: "self-righteous...puritans": Yes, while I follow the writings and theology of the Puritans - righteousness comes from God, not from self.
As an abstinence only supporter, I rest easy at night knowing that the methods I recommend are 100% effective and 100% safe when used.
Thanks, newbie.
1. It's totally unrealistic;
2. Its supporters KNOW that it is totally unrealistic, and resort to telling outrageous lies in order to convince people of the merits of their argument, as we see in the example of the speaker in this article.
"When used" being the operative word.
Look, I have no problem with people following an abstinence-only lifestyle. That's great--they can do whatever they want. It's just that almost every single study ever conducted shows that people have an awfully hard time following the command to refrain from sex.
I also have a difficult time with adults, who are pas their prime, lecturing others on how they need to refrain from their natural urges.
I agreed with your post up until this your last statement. You're wrong!
OK, almost wrong :-)
Moroccan women undergo surgery for "virginity"
Waiting for her turn at a private gynaecologist's clinic in the Moroccan capital, Nawal wanted to fix one last thing to ensure a perfect marriage of convenience. With the 2,500 dirhams she borrowed, she will undergo a surgical procedure that she hopes, will convince her new husband she is a virgin. "My cousin asked to marry me believing I'm a virgin. I accepted because I need a husband. So we'll both get what we want," said the 26-year-old textile worker.The minor operation consists of hooking biodegradable suture clips on the hymen to provoke bleeding during the first sexual intercourse on the wedding night
but virginity doesn't come back.
The scare quotes used in the sentence means that she was using the term as a metaphor and was not meant literally.
"Tom Wells, a Bozeman attorney"
That's all I need to know. And what do you bet - a card-carrying ACLU member???
. . . creationists, abstinence-only supporters . . . self-righteous, freaks, puritans . . .
Another broken record.
This creationist believes that abstinence is the only safe route for my kids. You can teach yours whatever you so desire - including your natural selection theory applied to stupid kids having sex.
As a parent of teens, I'm all for the abstinence program. However, I see no reason schools should have any input whatsoever when it comes to issues like this. It should be the job of the parents. As for your evolution rant, what is wrong with the holes in evolution being presented?
While I've never heard that condoms cause cancer, multiple partners sure can (for females, anyway). Cervical cancer is directly linked to a virus transmitted sexually. (Discovered by the lack of cervical cancer in nuns.)
There are, believe it or not, teens who are NOT having sex!
A gun with just three bullets in the cylinder, instead of fully loaded, isn't a safe gun but it's a less risky gun. However, you are just as dead if it goes off with the barrel pointed at your head. I suggest complete abstinence in pointing a gun barrel at your head.
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