Posted on 10/04/2005 5:17:44 PM PDT by wagglebee
(AgapePress) - The National Center for Health Statistics recently released the latest numbers on births to unmarried women, and in 2003 1.4 million babies fell into that category.
Bridget Maher, analyst on marriage and family issues for the Family Research Council, is concerned that over one-third of all babies born in the United States are born out of wedlock, likely resulting from a reliance on contraceptives.
"Many young people are taught, especially in sex education programs, that contraceptives are the best protection against pregnancy," Maher explains. "But that's not true. Abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and more young people need to hear the message of abstinence."
Unfortunately this message of abstinence is being silenced by a culture that screams sexual freedom, just as the consequences and responsibilities that accompany sex outside of marriage are being ignored.
"Children suffer when they're born out of wedlock," Maher says. "They are more likely to become delinquent, to do poorly in school, [and] to have a child out of wedlock themselves.
"[In other words] ... children suffer a lot of negative outcome from being born out of wedlock," she adds. "And we know that children are much happier, healthier, and more prosperous when they're born to married parents."
The following sex education programs/alliances promote a contraceptive-based agenda of which parents should be wary: Abstinence Plus, Advocates for Youth, Be Proud! Be Responsible!, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
Amen!
Unwed birth ping.
But obviously, they are not even using birth control or there wouldn't be results like this. Also I agree with the message, this is a pretty weak article.
Of course, the phenomenon is not limited to single moms. Just check out the threads here dealing with cohabitation. On every one, we get the guys who boast that they are (or were) shacking up with girlfriends, yet their marriages are certain to be faithful and enduring. You tell them that the stats are against that, and they simply declare themselves the exceptions and call you "judgmental" if you suggest otherwise.
It seems to me that self-control and self discipline are needed in this and in other areas of life. Condoms don't help people get up and go to school or to work, but self-discipline does.
We teach drug abstinance, but the leftists can't bring themselves to teach sexual abstinance.
Good point.
Just think of what the unwed birth rate would be without Roe v. Wade?
How many fetus deaths are among the unwed mothers.
Man, my marriage is doomed and I didn't even know it, and all because we lived together for six months. Since I'd hate to declare that my marriage is an exception, give it to me straight Doc, just how long does my marriage have left?
And so we are getting closer to the problem. It is that people or all races who are on the lower education/economic level are having an explosion of births, while the upper educational and economic levels are having fewer births.
A decline in the birth rate of the middle and upper levels of a society have always preceeded a civilization's collapse.
As I said, it's nearly impossible to talk with people about the consequences of their sexual behavior. You can give them the statistics on various behaviors (e.g., that cohabitation tends to result in subsequent marital instability), but what you get back is just a bunch of snotty "No, not me!" nonsense. That's why the only real way to curtail dangerous behavior is widespead societal disapproval. In an age when "tolerance" is the only acceptable virtue and "judgmentalism" the only acknowledged sin, such disapproval is not to be found. The results have been very bad--for couples and, far more importantly, for their innocent children.
Another post says that young girls and boys are having sex at a younger age, and are not interested in marriage but in pleasure, and now this. The morals have degenerated beyond belief. Thank you Clinton, and all other leftists.
Too easy a target. Granted that the Left gave us the Sexual Revolution to complement the other social changes they envisioned. But many people who bought into their narcissistic and hedonistic outlook were anything but leftists. Just look at how many FReepers here show up to champion almost any imaginable social ill that involves sexual pleasure--or, at least, heterosexual pleasure.
Far be it for me to argue. In light of my horrid mistake, I just want to know how long my marriage has left. I guess a little societal dissaproval might help too..
--births to unmarried women
--abortions
lots of STD's spreading out there. These viruses never die and are always there.
abstinence is the only way.
Thanks. Likely a pinger outer, tomorrow.
I think most or many people don't realize the utter seriousness of what's happening to the family. A large number of illegitimate children means society is falling apart. It's bad, bad news.
I must be the exception. We lived together for almost three years, got pregnant and celebrated our 16th anniversary this year. Not that I recommend it, but two people who know right and wrong can make good decisions. I love them both so much!
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