Fundamentalists target Britain!
Karl
Jun 24 2004
Birmingham Post
Top health officials in Birmingham have condemned a radical
pro-virginity group for giving out the wrong message about teenage sex.
The US-based Silver Ring Thing (SRT) is visiting the city this weekend
to promote its abstinence-only approach to teenagers.
Birmingham and the Black Country has the highest teenage pregnancy rates
in the country, with 42 in every 1,000 under 18-year-olds becoming pregnant.
In Longbridge more than one in ten teenage girls are getting pregnant,
nearly three times the national average.
But Dr Jacky Chambers, head of Birmingham's Teenage Pregnancy
Partnership, said the American movement would not help solve the city's
teen pregnancy problems and could only make it worse.
"This is not the solution to our teenage pregnancy problem in Birmingham.
"Research shows that not only do the majority of young people taking the
pledge break it, but that they are less likely to use contraception when
they do," she said.
"The risk is that the Silver Ring Thing's messages and approaches might
contribute to fear, shame and guilt, which encourage secrecy and make it
difficult for young people to take responsibility for their sexual
behaviour."
A team of 30 men and women from the SRT will hammer home their message
at a high-tech event, hosted by leader Denny Pattyn, at the Betel of
Britain venue, Sherlock Street, Birmingham, on Saturday.
The SRT was set up in the US in 1995. Supporters aged between 11-18 wear
a silver ring on their wedding finger as a symbol and reminder of their
no-sex-before-marriage vow.
In the first five years since it was established, almost 1,000 teenagers
completed a two-hour course, received a silver ring and signed an
abstinence vow.
But health chiefs in the city fear the movement does not adequately
combine education with the no-sex missive.
Dr Chambers added: "Not only do we encourage young people to delay
becoming sexually active, but we also work to ensure they have the
necessary information, confidence and skills to make responsible
choices, and provide contraception services that meet their needs."
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