Massachusetts bishops: End funding of teen pregnancy website

May 04, 2011

The bishops of Massachusetts are calling for the end to state funding of a website intended to counter teen pregnancy.

“This website employs demeaning and sexually explicit terminology, an approach that rightly deserves the criticism it is receiving,” the bishops said in a recent statement. “This tactic only succeeds in talking down to minors under the mistaken assumption that the young are incapable of responding positively to challenging and uplifting appeals to their better nature.”

The website, the bishops added,

promotes an overall message that sexual conduct for unmarried minors is acceptable whenever it “feels right.” Additionally, the website describes abortion in misleadingly opaque terms, touting the procedure as “easier than you think,” and emphasizes ways to obtain an abortion without parental knowledge. The website fails to acknowledge that many women, especially those undergoing an abortion in their teenage years, suffer long term negative consequences. Furthermore, the website limits the list of available resources to organizations that advocate for or provide abortion and contraception.

 

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Further information:

• Bishops Issue Statement on Controversial State Website (Massachusetts Catholic Conference)