http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...3-571e0fbb7583
Quote:
|
Health regions are preparing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine program for Grade 5 girls, which will begin later this month or early October.The voluntary program has generated considerable debate in Alberta's Catholic school boards. Some have questioned whether it is appropriate to inoculate against a virus largely transmitted through sexual activity given the church's opposition to premarital sex.
|
Quote:
. . . Catholic schools appear to be condoning premarital sex," said trustee Marge Belcourt.
. . .
Schools will be sending parents an information package complete with a letter from the bishop on the issue and resources from Alberta Health and Wellness on the vaccine as well as where parents can get it for their child free if it's not provided at schools, said Belcourt.
|
I don't see how this is really around premarital sex. Handing out condoms to school kids is one thing, I can appreciate how that could be seen as condoning premarital sex, but this is something that helps prevent cancer.
I doubt sex is the only way to transmit HPV (though I have no idea what the rates are). If you're the one that contracted HPV through non-sexual means and got cancer I doubt it's comforting knowing why you were sacrificed.
And the stupidest thing is HPV doesn't know the difference between premarital sex and sex inside a marriage! This is most effective if given at the ages they're talking about, and it may be shocking but eventually those girls are going to get married and have sex
.
So saying it's about premarital sex is a very weak excuse in my opinion.
At least they're sending material home to educate parents about this and hopefully they'll all take advantage of other avenues, but I'd be interested in seeing a copy of the letter the bishop will send home.