Back in 2011, Texas lawmakers decided to cut millions of dollars in funding for family planning services like Planned Parenthood in favor of an abstinence-only approach. Then-governor Ricky Perry framed the policy as a necessary step to decrease abortions. He also assured constituents that teenagers didn't need family planning services. One researcher, skeptical of the governor's claims, decided to monitor the issue.
The resulting study, published last month, found that the funding cuts caused a 3.4% increase in teen birth rates. That might not seem like a lot, but it translates to a whopping 2,200 more teenagers giving birth than before the cuts. On top of that, there was no noticeable drop in abortion rates the primary reason for cutting funding in the first place.
So what went wrong?
It's Human Nature, Stupid
The findings illustrate a couple of things. First, they show that teenagers are going to have sex, no matter what you teach them. There's no getting around it. The fearmongering and guilt-tripping which are staples of abstinence-only education simply makes matters worse. Human nature makes teens sexually curious. Teenagers also love to break the rules so good luck "forbidding" them from trying something.
But here's another problem: teenagers are also woefully uninformed. Clamping down on sex education and restricting access to contraceptives creates "perfect storm" of sorts. So not only will teens have a limited understanding of how their bodies work, but they'll also lack the means to prevent a pregnancy.
**
Faith-based Decision
**
When Texas moved to cut the budget, the motivation was primarily faith-based. By cutting off abortion providers, abortion rates were bound to go down, right? Unfortunately, the study explains, this is not how things shake out in practice:
"Reducing funding for family planning services can have the unintended consequences of increasing abortion and reducing the number of women seeking preventative health care. Moreover, the funding for family planning services is cost effective. Cutting such programs is cutting an investment in women and children, which can lead to lower economic productivity, lower tax revenue and higher public expenditures down the line."
Abstinence vs. Safe Sex
The entire ordeal highlights an ongoing debate between two schools of thought on the social norms of dating and sex. One side argues that teens shouldn't be having sex until marriage, and that if you just encourage them to be abstinent then teen pregnancy will be reduced. The other side points out that this old-fashioned approach ignores basic human nature, and will never be as effective as its proponents claim.
It's true that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective form of birth control. However, as the Texas study illustrates, teenagers are not perfect creatures. Without guidance and proper education, they are bound to do stupid things.
The Moral Route
Which is the more moral approach? Some argue that teaching kids to abstain from sex is the only moral route. Perhaps that's true. But what if that approach doesn't work? Well, you end up with a baby.
Is teenage pregnancy and child-rearing an acceptable form of "punishment" or "learning experience" for irresponsible young adults? At such a young age, it typically places a burden not only on the couple (if they stay together, which often isn't the case), but also on the surrounding family unit.
What are your thoughts?
89 comments
-
Tom B
Roe v Wade is not only the law, it is ethical...
-
Daniela
I agree. Women deserve complete autonomy over their body and what is inside of it. The only way to decrease the amount of teen pregnancies and STD's is to educate teenagers about sex and contraception. The facts are there.
-
Tom B
Daniela...thank you...and i agree about education...and add respect for everyone...Tom
-
-
-
James
Try not to have unprotected sex. Or not until your married. Oh, wait. That would be too much to ask. Let's all pay for people having unsafe sex. This Typical crap. Why blame every one else for your short comings.
-
Erin
Lack of information is entirely different from someone's alleged shortcomings.
-
Anita Ganser
You do know married women use birth control, right? Those same families also terminate pregnancies. The problem with the main pro-life groups is they are also anti-birth control unless you the rhythm method. It's just a control game by the Christian leaders.
-
Ellen M. Santistevan
Anita, THANK YOU!
-
-
someoneelsehasmyusername
If you've ever been in a room of teenagers, it IS too much to ask. Teenagers are going to have sex. Like it, lump it, or stick your head in the sand like every other idiot. Teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates are exponentially higher in areas that sponsor abstinence only education and try to shame and demonize sex. Wake up.
-
-
Donald Warren
Good article and information
-
Larry Copeland
Gods word states teens are committing a sinful act. God says they will not get to heavin for their disobedience, let them do what is a sin and Satan wins another soul. Who's right God or philosophers?
-
Sara
The philosophers.
-
Brother Tim
Yes, grow up Larry, you people read the bible and take it literally are ignorant and have no Godly value in you what so ever. Jesus said love your neighbor as you would love thy self but your kind doesn't want to hear that. The bible is good for a lot of things like giving you the right to ridicule others when you step away from Jesus and God. The bible should only have one page and one verse, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That pretty much explains it in a nut shell. But how were we to know you were a masochist and until you understand that God has never said anything to everyone you'll stay confused. All religious bibles are the words of men that have had a vision from the true living God. God will speak to you directly but you must follow the old ways of true love for the people and to fast like they did in the old days. The visions from God come to those who are humble and fast.This is where you have to be careful because you can have a good vision or a bad vision and it needs to be interpreted by responsible people who have had visions themselves. Just like the American Indians do for their vision quest, they are in touch with the true LIVING God, the God all of these religious books are written about and I don't see them trying to kill you
-
Glen Saunders
No Brother Tim we are in touch with the Great Spirit. The universe and every living thing around us. We do not know or understand the meaning of God. You need to continue on your own misguided journey and stay away from things you will never understand. You cannot walk the Red Road.
-
-
-
Barry
Neither.Sex is natural.Not a sin
-
Anita Ganser
Amen
-
-
Barry
How true.Cant blame the unborn for Being there.
-
Reverend Ray Marshall.
God absolutely does NOT say that teenagers who get pregnant (or anyone else) will not get to heaven for their disobedience! Our god is a god of forgiveness and compassion for all. Do Not make false claims about what The Bible actually says! Read Revelation 22:18-20..
-
Vicki
Agree! I believe that is one of the natural things that humans do is create new life for the survival of the species. The age and social status are man-made issues.
-
-
-
Erin
Heaven*...
-
jay michaels
You are right in that God's word says that this is sinful, but you are completely wrong that you will not get to heaven if you have sex outside of marriage. God tells you this because he wants the best for you. The "enemy" or Satan or whatever you want to call him actually wins when you think there is no grace or redemption............
-
-
Beth K
The availability of contraception, especially when combined with sex education is proven to decrease teen pregnancy and abortion. It decreases the number of children born to teen mothers - often thrown out, in poverty. Children who have disabilities, or are non-white or mixed race seldom are adopted. At best, they'll be raised in foster care. There is less support or healthcare available to such girls, who may show up at the hospital in labor without prenatal care, or even have the baby on their own without professional care - which increases the risk to the infant and mother. At the VERY LEAST, you cannot blame this on the baby, who finds him or herself in life without financial support. It seems the pinnacle of hypocrisy to value the foetus until born, then expect the infant to pull itself up by their own bootie-straps.
Contraception and sex education prevents these conceptions. Educators often report that girls (especially) they encounter are teenagers who have NO IDEA where babies come from, or how they are created. These girls are especially ripe for exploitation by boys or traffickers who can tell them anything and they'll believe it.
For Gods' sake, at least TELL these teens what "fornication" entails!
-
Rev. Hoagie
Beth K you mentioned sex education twice. You do realize sex education is the purview of the public education system since the 1960's, don't you? And contraception is not the exclusive domain of Planned Parenthood. As a matter of fact a " non-white or mixed race" teen mother can obtain contraceptives at a gas station which do not require $500 million in taxpayer money to sell the kid a rubber. You do realize PP services are not free, don't you? You also realize that PP's main business and $$money-maker is abortion. Here are some facts presented in an easy-to-understand format so you can begin to comprehend why PP is not the answer. Maybe: https://youtu.be/cOe71YhTwEI
-
Erin
Planned Parenthood provides a myriad of other medical services besides contraception and abortion services. Go peddle your bullshite lies else where. Those alleged undercover tapes were proven to be fraudulent quite a while ago Rev. Hoagie. Abstinence works with those who have discipline and self esteem and it is as important to educate boys as it is girls. Many voices on here are dumping all the blame on girls as usual. It takes a boy and a girl to make a baby yet women carry the burden of blame and responsibility of the child rearing. In this day and age there is no excuse for an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy and there is ZERO excuse for blocking access to information, products, or services that can help anyone take responsibility for their choices.
-
Anita Ganser
Amen and 99% of teens are not disciplined to stay abstinent. I wonder how many of the men here have the same expectation of their sons. Or better yet how many of the men here kept abstinent before you got married??
-
-
Bro. Travis
Planned parenthood is funded by tax dollars that are paid by all citizens and all businesses except religious organizations. PP prevents abortions by preventing pregnancies so how they be funded by abortions? Please write out any comments, read them, send them to someone smarter than you to read them, send them to an expert in the field before you post them. Comments that sound like mindless drivel do not help you position. Sex education is a science. It should be taught in schools by people that understand the biology and can intelligently about the subject. It is unfortunate that poorly educated individuals like your self have self appointed themselves as the guardians of morality.
-
Anita Ganser
I fear you are talking to a group of people who think the world is 2000 yrs old and think Noah had dinosaurs on the Ark
-
Bro. Travis
I guess you are correct. One can always hope God can grant them knowledge and wisdom.
-
John Owens
Just FYI-- they think the world AS WE KNOW IT is almost 6,000 years old, and most of them think the dinosaurs either a) never really existed, or b) were killed in the FIRST flood, when the Earth was covered with water and plunged into total darkness (Gen 1). Not to nitpick, just saying.
-
-
-
-
Tom B
Beth...I agree with you...Texas has taken the "holier than thou" approach, but only in an indefensible vacuum...Tom
-
Thomas Thompson
Great post..
-
Rob M
Agreed, Beth. And let's not forget that the ability to understand how our bodies work (well, all of the natural universe really) is a gift from God. Our intelligence, reason, thought, and ability to invent are gifts. All of those gifts allow us to learn across time and to solve problems. The lack of desirability for teen pregnancy is a recent result of social evolution. This change is good for everyone as we mature as a society. Along side this change we developed knowledge on how the reproductive system works and inventions to change it. We've done this for most parts of our body. We just attach useless shame to the ones involving genitals (except, viagra . . . there's no shaming or judgement there). In my opinion, honoring God's gifts means using our knowledge and inventions for society's betterment. Teach our teens, boys and girls, how ALL parts of their bodies work (we tell them about every other body part) and give them tools to avoid making costly mistakes when their natural interests are present.
-
Jimmy Perry
Your last sentence tells it all.
-
Anita Ganser
Amen
-
-
Miranda Allison Young
It has been proven that cutting funding for these services makes everything worse. Increasing it cuts way down on the need for abortions and STDs. Texas is infamous for it's hatred of women. Their legislature and Governor have passed many laws that make life difficult for women. They need a new Governor.
-
Lea Weisenbach
We have a society that is advertising sex all the time..sex sells. We have parent that are to busy drinking and partying than paying attention to their teens. Teens are treated as if they are already adults...Their not...Teens are just beginning to see what this world is all about.
I'm pro-choice...and I'm not for abortion. I grew up on the streets of Detroit and sexual assault was almost a daily thing. My only protection was the birth control pill. I've know gals that gave up their virginity for fear of rape..Sad but true.. Lets stop with the fairy tale...Lets start treating sex as its a normal thing of life along with responsnability.
Unwanted pregnancies outside of marriage and in marriage. I've seen good religious families still kicking their girls out because they have become pregnant outside of marriage. We have a society that is filled with unwanted children...The I've heard out of a very religious person that could not have kids...Would not adopt one because they are damaged!!!
Sex is a very human act...We need to stop demonizing and story respecting our kids and give them the right informatio and education. We need to teach responsibly for the sex act because that little life needs a loving home.
We have seen the damage of religious ideas...Lets get into reality please.
-
Vicki
Well said!
-
Bro. Travis
Amen
-
-
rebadams7
It is not immoral to teach how bodies work. Nor is it immoral to give information that will be useful as adults it may be useful right now but it can't be taught with the attitude of you need to take care of yourself in order to be a good parent and take care of a child. I went to a very religious school where we were given all kinds of information on how bodies work sexual responses and what they mean and all types of contraception. All this with the understanding that here is what God prefers and God commands. We were never told To ignore the information now and just use it later we were told this is important information to have in life in general and that our faith would lead us to good decisions. That doesn't mean we were all angels but that did mean there were no unplanned pregnancies in that class that I knew of. Abstinence can be the attitude but knowledge can be the safety valve
-
bri
America is still stuck in the 1850;s Beth K is the only one with sensible comments
-
Bruce
I agree that Beth K has the real world perspective on the issue, but I also agree with rebadams7 that we should never abandon fostering (preaching) the fundamental moral imperative and ideal of respecting everyone - loving our neighbors as ourselves - in all our acts, even our sexual ones. The fact that we fall short of living out the ideal dictates embracing responsible sex education and contraception as an alternative to abortion. But if Christianity is anything, it is the continuing challenge to live Christ's mandate to love one another as He has loved us and to live the righteousness described in Matt: 26: 35-40 in our daily lives.
-
-
Jack Lam
If it's going to happen it will.but with God's grace.us as a race will survive. Amen.
-
Thomas Thompson
I thought coming here would give me some clarity, but instead, I find the same contempt here, as in social media. Quit judging everyone, for everything. There are going to be differing ideals, and beliefs. If you are, as I am, a humble minister, quit the judgement. Any religion except the extreme fanatics, should except people for who they are. Not bicker in a blog, about opinions.
-
Jim D.
Thomas J. Thompson, today, you are my hero. Well said.
-
Erin
Agreed.
-
-
Richard D
Thomas JThompson: Please investigate the difference between "except" and "accept". Your ignorance negates the validity of your comment
-
Casey Maupin
Unfair, you can not, nor should not condemn a person's impassioned responses over semantics.. That isn't fair to 80% of Americans.. ~Arbitrary number due to my observation of idiot comments over the interwebs..
-
Jim D.
Richard, I guess you missed the point of not judging everyone for everything. I suppose you got a perfect score in English class. Your' comment added nothing to the discussion. Nice going, Richard.
-
Jim D.
Richard, I guess you completely missed the point about not judging everyone for everything. I didn't realize this forum grammatical and syntactic accuracy. Your comment added nothing to the discussion. Nice going, Richard.
-
-
Samantha Vogel
Defending ppp will be make everything worse. People need those low income facilities for birth control and other gynecology needs. Should we defund your insurance because we don't like it ? Should we defund your retirement etc? Who's anyone to say what a woman can do with her body and two just because YOU don't like something it should be defunded. It's the Uneducated Trump supporters who believe to defund this take away I want this I want that. Keep supporting him see where it gets you when he's impeached. We need a woman in office to back up the women in our country. Men still make more money. A man is no better than a woman , remember that :)
-
Jim D.
I don't even have to crack a joke about this one. It takes care of that all by itself. Thanks for the chuckle.
-
Erin
When men can't get erectile dysfunction pills with state and federal funding then you can complain about public funding for birth control.
-
angel
We should defund them until they no longer provide abortions to children behind the legal guardians backs! You can't take away someone's rights and then pass the responsibility on someone who is NOT aware of what is going on. Children should not have a right to make adult decisions while still being under the responsibility of an adult. The reason why the legal age is 18 is because we have decided that kids under that age still need to be taken care of, including medically.
-
-
Memirsbrunnr@RobV (@Memirsbrunnr)
abstinence works like a charm and is 100% successful in preventing pregnancy. But only in the age 70+ age groups, no couple in this age group ever got pregnant and can easily keep up extended abstinence periods. With the extremely randy and horny 12- 30 age group it is extremely unsuccessful.. No amount of prayer will keep the tools inactive and inside of the shed. If you have brand new shiny tools the urge to use them is just too great not to show them off
-
Simone A. Malboeuf
If you want to know the real impact on the American society of not educating our youth about how to prevent pregnancy and prohibiting them from access to prevent pregnancy, read "High Risk: Children Without a Conscience" by Dr. Ken Magid and Carole A McKelvey, printed in 1987-1989. We have known for decades that keeping our children ignorant as to how a human gets pregnant and prevents themselves from pregnancy increases teen pregnancy. The US has continually had very high teen pregnancy and birth rates.That is why countries like Sweden, start sex education classes for everyone early on(grade school) and keeps the information (as well as access to birth control) accessible. They embrace the wisdom that having sex is part of being human and that a wise society helps their youth prevent unwanted, unloved and rejected children from being conceived and born. The truth about what happens to all these unwanted humans, and how they affect all of us as they mature, is a travesty. If you think it's too expensive to provide sex education and birth control, take a look at how these unplanned and unloved people affect all of us as they vent their uncontrollable rage growing up and being adults. It's much "cheaper" to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, than have to pay the very high price of trying to rehabilitate unbonded children, teens and adults, many of whom become incarcerated. Now, that's a huge expense and burden to the American Society. Not to mention increasing the poverty levels of women (teen mothers) and children, which adds greatly to our economic burdens. Doesn't Bible class teach that Jesus said, "Love One Another " ? Teens have historically felt unloved and misunderstood. Next to poor people and the Homeless, teens are probably the most unloved segment of our society. So what do you think happens to the Christian unwed pregnant teen and her child after she is "booted out"? They bear all the blame and hardship, while the young (or older) man gets off free to impregnate someone else.... And so do the adults who had the knowledge and tools of how to keep from having an unwanted pregnancy - but refused to provide our children with the proper education and tools to protect themselves. How Christian is that?
-
Vincent
I was sex education in school. But even then people in my class got pregnant. I believe sex ed is important but you have to add what can happen after I'm protected sex. The child you might or std the stigma of it gets out there's a thousand things that should be added to sex ed. But I don't believe religion should be one of them.
-
Amber
Even if you believe abstinence is the only way, it has been clear that areas that teach sex ed have always had a lower count in both teen pregnancies and STDs. Teens have a rebellious streak and if you just tell them don't, they will. If you give them all the information, teach them prevention and everything that can happen if you do have sex, including STDs and the emotional repercussions, then far more take that information and put it to good use. You actually give them information that has more of them choosing not to for smart reasons, not just because someone tells them don't.
-
James
This is a dumb argument. From a Christian before point ;you can do as you will. You can live outside the teachings and still be forgiven. Yet, one cannot be upset when their life and quality of life is in the gutter because of their choices. I say live your life, learn from your mistakes, and reach for a better life without blaming everyone and everything else. Your life is all your's. Stop blaming others for not wanting to pay for you personal crap.
-
Bill Fox
I was in a class of 360 in the 1960s. Three girls, in five years, dropped out of school because they were pregnant. Three. We did not have legal abortions. We did not have sex education. We did not have any of the things claimed to be necessary today to prevent unwanted pregnancy. We had scalding peer pressure and parental discipline. It had nothing to do with faith based abstinence. It is somewhat humorous to read the article. It blames everyone but the person who got pregnant. That's the person who suffers the consequences of their actions. And then the bastard suffers.
-
jimspoor
Interesting reading. I always articles that cite their sources. Which programs exactly received a decrease in funding? Did pregnancies increase or did teens having children increase? Not the same thing at all. As always, moderation is likely the best route. While abstinence is 100% effective as quoted above; we need to make sure kids are as smart and as protected as possible. There are more ways than providing abortion services to do that.
-
roger svensson
IMHO if we are to come from our hearts and not our heads we will realize true ecumenical thinking. Recognize the fact that we are all different and we all feel different and we will be more peaceful in accepting in others that which we do not have in ourselves and do so without judgement. Having a child or not is a choice to be made ultimately by the woman hopefully & the partner she has chosen to have this child or not, all to come to an agreement and decide what's best for all. In God's eyes I am sure that truth and true spiritualism expressed with honesty and dignity from the heart always brings about the best outcome for the individuals. It is those who are of a different belief one who perhaps decides not having a child is a worst outcome than having the child or vice versa it depends on the person's educational background and culture producing different results and all is correct in God's eyes I am sure since God is in all & loves all. Ignorance in the eyes of God is innocent sin but fully informed and selfish choices in choosing abortion over life is a more serious sin or negative karma depending on your belief system and will bring a proportiate amount of suffering. Let your conscious be your guide and trust your heart & not your mind will ultimately lead you to the best choice and ultimately the promise land. Blessings to all, Rev. Rog S.
-
Bro. Travis
Amen Brother Rog
-
Dana L Terriah
I believe that sex ed should be in scools to teach teens that they should do
-
Kawika
"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the DEAD." --Thomas Paine
Please be reasonable with your Sisters and Brothers
-
Leslie Gray
There is no credible evidence to show that abstinence works at all.
-
Tom B
Leslie...that is the first funny comment i have read...thank you...Tom
-
-
James j
On the subject of abortion! ; make it a separate entity totally independent to be used as a medical procedure not birth control! The original article is written with many medical deceptive facts used incorrectly to deceive the reader . We need to teach all aspects of sex and pregnancy prevention simply because at some point we will me someone that will overwelm thei judgment an they need to be able to protect themselves in that moment. We all know there are many that will want to enjoy the fruits of the garden but have no intention of tending its needs!!!
-
Alice Looney
I attended elementary school in VA in the 1960s. Very graphic public health education taught us all the parts and the facts. I decided at age nine that I didn't want ANY part of babies, although by age twelve I looked like a grown woman and was rejecting advances from grown men. EDUCATION WORKS! Teach children VERY early the truth about how everything works and teach them that sex does NOT equal love. Then teach girls what previous generations of women knew; abstinence puts the reins in their hands and THEY have the POWER.
-
Tom B
Alice...you are right, and to the point...i grew up in NYC, which should be advanced, but did nothing like the good education you described...Tom
-
-
angel
I don't support planned parenthood for one reason, they take away the rights of parents, yet the responsibility if something happens it still falls on them! Because this is a medical procedure, and if they screw up, and you know they do, it can be very serious, and we are responsible for these kids, this is NOT something that should be done behind our backs! If they are to scared to tell their parents about their pregnancies, what happens if they start hemorrhaging or die on the table, develop a serious infection or becomes sterile? Who's responsible then? Would they even notify you that they screwed up and your kid is dead? Or they screwed up and are in the hospital getting surgery and hide behind HIPPA??? Or do they wait until you get the bill before you figure it out? And, after an abortion, shouldn't they be getting a check-up? You cannot take away our rights and then dump all the responsibility on us without letting us know what is going on!!! It's not right. I will not leave medical decisions up to some random doctor who I don't even know and who doesn't even have enough common sense or respect for the family of the kid they are supposedly are caring for!
-
someoneelsehasmyusername
Interesting reading. For completely false and supremely ignorant ravings that is. I bet you don't support coroner's because they all put on puppet shows with grandma's corpse, too...
-
-
Minister Anthony Longstreet
Its a population control method that will help control our food chain. The world is slowly over populating and the over population is causing a strain on the water and food chain. So something must be done or law makers will intentionally wage war to shrink the population. Looking people up is not solving the problem. And over population s causing law makers to take desperate measures to try and control a growing human population issue. China made it law that only one child can be born to a female. And this is because of a population control.
-
RightOn Brother
The article should say the findings show UNSUPERVISED teens are going to have sex. Competently supervised teens, not so much.
-
XaurreauX
The so-called "Pro-Life" movement lost all its moral credibility by their failure and refusal to support contraception. This is not about saving the "baby" or "protecting" women. It's about a minority of aging white males and their Stepford Wives, desperately attempting to hold onto their privilege and relevancy by controlling the fertility and sexuality of women.
-
John Owens
Moral credibility has nothing to do with support of contraception, but most Pro-life people support contraception BEFORE pregnancy. They (I should say, we) just don't accept abortion as a means of birth control. Abortion is NOT contraception, since conception has already occurred BEFORE there can be an abortion. Your last sentence about aging white males and Stepford Wives is just obvious parroting of someone else, and really insincere and prejudiced. Women need to control their OWN damned fertility and sexuality. If they did, this would not even be a discussion at all.
-
-
Writehanded
Perhaps “Moral Medicinal Masterbation” for the youngsters could be taught in church. Totally pro life!
The amount of teens that are getting pregnant is the same as before. The rate of murder of the unborn has decreased significantly.
Agreed
The article states that teen pregnancy just increased by over 3% and you comment that there hasn'the been an increase. Where are your facts coming from, I would like to know?
Wrong. The article stated the BIRTH RATE went up...not the pregnancy rate. Fewer pregnant teens are killing their unborn babies so the birth rate has gone up.
Sorry Dan but Vic was right your wrong. If you support war you support late term abortion until you stop all forms of abortion people should keep their mouths shut especially coming from a site that promotes ignorance and violence. The ULC ministers site is being run by Nazi extremist that promote the rebel flag, white supremacy and are in line with the Trump agenda. No love is coming from that site at all. It has censored my post's as well as other good people posts. We have been badgered and repressed by those who are running the site so until you stop the ignorance in you we will never have common ground. I haven't yet returned my Ordination from ULC but probably will due to the lack of understanding of GOD by its patrons. Brother Tim
Birth rate went up. Abortion rate stayed equal. In order for that to happen, the number of pregnancies HAD to rise. Simple math.
But then again, we are talking simple minds - like those of the Texas Legislature.
I read the original paper, and BOTH abortions and births went up.
https://www.academia.edu/19435560/Family_Planning_Funding_Cuts_and_Teen_Childbearing (“the funding cuts increased abortion rates by 4.9 percent 1-2 years after the funding cuts and 3.1 percent over three years”).
Yes,and more state funds to support the kids
Interesting how Christians, well people of faith, say that abstinence is 100% but yet they forget Jesus. Or any of the other deities that came from a virgin birth.
I can think of at least one alleged virgin for whom abstinence did NOT work. What about female rape victims too? Does attempting abstinence work for them?
Not to mention, congenital syphilis, HIV transmission during birth or breastfeeding, HPV & herpes transmission through skin-to-skin contact. Its certainly NOT 100% effective against either pregnancy or STDs.
If they had education and access to birth control that also does a better job to decrease abortion. We should not treat our children as if this is a 3rd world nation. As Americans out children should have the best healthcare in the world. Some people want teenagers punished by allowing them to get pregnant in the first place. Why would we want more unwanted children? Why would we want this for our grandchildren? Parents don't bond to them. The hostility is notable by the amount of abuse that us rampant. These children feel no real love. There is more brokenness. Numbers of abortion won't decrease. The numbers of legal abortions will.
I agree. We need to educated our children on sex, why people have sex, the various ways to have safe sex, the proper use of birth control, and why waiting is important. But let's not be stupid about it either. Kids are going to have sex. It has always been that way. We need to give them all the options available and allow them to make informed decisions. We need to keep Planned Parenthood clinics open and funded. Not all girls who want an abortion got pregnant willingly. We need to remember that.
I agree with you Mary. Informing our children; and giving them resources through Planned Parenthood are needed: REV KRYA FIXT We know that abortion is legal in the USA. In 2015, Florida had 71,740. The statistics are declining; but how can we eliminate the entire worry? TEACH FAMILY PLANNING TO YOUR CHILDREN https://www.opa-fpclinicdb.com/about-this-tool