Federal government agrees to stop funding abstinence-only program

[Rose Siding]

BOSTON - A nationwide abstinence-only program that uses a silver ring to remind teens to remain sexually pure has lost federal funding with the settlement of a lawsuit alleging it used the money for Christian evangelization.

The Silver Ring Thing, which presents its message though comedy skits and music, has received more than $1 million in federal funding during the past three years.

But it won't be eligible for more unless it changes its program to ensure the money isn't used for religious purposes, according to the agreement reached Wednesday between the American Civil Liberties Union and Department of Health and Human Services.

"Public funds were being used to fund a road show, really, to convert teens to Christianity," said Julie Sternberg, an ACLU attorney.

Sternberg said the ACLU supports the program's right to offer religious content, but not with taxpayer money. She added she hopes the lawsuit is a "wake-up call" to the federal government to more closely monitor the abstinence-only programs it funds.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/13943715.htm

[VegasWolf]

1. Great! Time for me to renew my ACLU membership!!!! nt

[Judi Lynn]

2. Hoping this is one of many steps necessary to regain our national health.

Republicans will not be capable of seeing the stark wrongfulness in their shoving the government's nose into the most intimate personal (that means TWO people, supposedly) moments of privacy, under the banner of "morality" and also intentionally invading other countries and killing their citizens any and every way possible while hiding behind a publicly exposed murderous lie, and all the hideous sins between.

Right-wingers need a lot of time to grow up, and it shouldn't be at the world's expense. This is a GREAT move ACLU initiated, and for once, it turned out right, too. :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[politicat]

3. It's a victory! I'll take it!

Now, can we sue the program out of existence by contesting its truth in advertising (because their product doesn't work)?

[rodeodance]

4. the HHS surely KNEW what was going on--No accountabliity for wasting

taxpayer money or for trying this stunt.

...In August, the Department of Health and Human Services suspended funding for the program, citing concerns that "the federal project that is funded ... includes both secular and religious components that are not adequately separated."

The government terminated the grant effective Jan. 31. A call to a Health and Human Services spokesman Thursday was not immediately returned.

Under the settlement, which expires in September 2008, the Silver Ring Thing can reapply for federal funding for the upcoming fiscal year if it separates abstinence education from religious education, by doing such things as holding the programs at different dates, times or locations, and eliminating Bibles and other or religious materials from the federally-funded program.

It was unclear how much the Silver Ring Thing relied on federal funding for its operations. In an item in its December 2005 newsletter about the ACLU suit, the organization wrote, "The Silver Ring Thing will continue to rely on the Lord to provide and supply everything needed to continue proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

[wordpix2]

5. now when are we going to re-fund Planned Parenthood here & abroad, like

we used to?

[Up2Late]

6. But does this mean I DON'T have to except Jesus as my personal...

...savior to get Federal Money?!?

Good, I like Buddhism much better.

Did they just figure that nobody would notice? Who's idea was this "Silver Ring Thing?"

[Gelliebeans]

7. Fantastic News

K&R