Abstinence speaker pushed religion in school, dad charges (condoms cause cancer?)

Bozeman Daily Chronicle ^ | 05/11/2005 | GAIL SCHONTZLER

[aNYCguy]

"..teaching them to use condoms isn't a bad idea."

Anyone who can't figure out how to use a condom by themselves is clearly not ready to have sex.

This may well be true, but is entirely irrelevant, because I've never asserted that teenagers are "ready to have sex."

The point is that they may well end up having sex whether you consider them ready or not. This is a fact. In that event, having taught them about methods of disease- and pregnancy-prevention may save their lives. Your response is analagous to the assertion that any kid who can't figure out how not to shoot themselves accidentally is clearly not ready to handle guns, and for that reason, kids who live in homes with guns shouldn't be taught any of the basics of gun safety.

All respect intended.

[aNYCguy]

Displaced more useful information?????? Ha!!!! Abstinence is the only information that children need if they follow it.

You, like most abstinence-only supporters I've ever heard speak of the subject, have summed up your position with a completely true, and mostly irrevelant statement:

Abstinence is the only information that children need if they follow it.

A highly relevant point, of course, is that there is some percentage of children who will not follow an abstinance program no matter what they are told. For those children, failing to teach them how to prevent diseases and pregnancy in the event of sex can have disastrous consequences.

[aNYCguy]

Displaced more useful information?????? Ha!!!! Abstinence is the only information that children need if they follow it.

You, like most abstinence-only supporters I've ever heard speak of the subject, have summed up your position with a completely true, and mostly irrevelant statement:

Abstinence is the only information that children need if they follow it.

A highly relevant point, of course, is that there is some percentage of children who will not follow an abstinance program no matter what they are told. For those children, failing to teach them how to prevent diseases and pregnancy in the event of sex can have disastrous consequences.

[Melas]

What's wrong with promoting abstinence-only?

Nothing, but when you resort to lies, half-truths and distortions to promote it, you've gone off the reservation. Cancer causing condems? C'mon, everyone with a shred of intellectual honesty is forced to admit that this was a cheap scare tactic on the part of the speaker.