Calgary's bishop putting girls' health at risk

[SebC]

Staring down the edict of a Calgary bishop who says the HPV vaccine contributes to promiscuity, a newly formed advocacy group is pushing Roman Catholic schools to allow students to be immunized against the sexually transmitted virus.

Calgary is the only major city in Canada with a publicly funded school board that withholds the vaccine on religious grounds, the group says. This puts the thousands of girls in the city and southern Alberta at risk of cervical cancer.

The activists, who include ethicists and doctors, have formed HPV Calgary in an attempt to strong-arm the Calgary Catholic School District into allowing vaccinations in Grades 5 and 9 with other routine shots.

[...]

“They have delegated their decision making to a non-elected official without expertise in evidence-based medicine or public health.”

[...]

Vaccination advocates said studies have found no correlation between the HPV vaccine and increased promiscuity.

“What we see anecdotally is that the children don’t jump into bed, they go out for recess. It’s hard to debate this because it’s not grounded in evidence or rationality,” Ms. Guichon said.

Further, it’s possible to contract HPV through sexual assault and abuse, she added.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/06/26/187783/

Way to go, Bishop Frederick Henry. Way to go.

[Sliver]

Unreal. As a non-religious person since birth it's so hard to imagine looking up to a religious leader for advice on anything, particularly medical advice. How are people not laughing at the audacity of this monkey for even offering his input on this issue?

[Senator Clay Davis]

As a (formerly practicing) Catholic I feel I can say this, but does the Bishop worry about the potential for STIs when his priests are sexually abusing little boys?

[GGG]

I think the bishops position is ridiculous but he is not preventing girls from getting the vaccine. Parents can take their children to the vaccine clinic for the immunization.

[FiftyBelow]

The overarching concern or issue here is that anything we do within our Catholic schools have to be congruent with the teachings of our church,” she said. “At the end of the day [we’re providing] a faith-based education that is in alignment with the direction of the Alberta bishops.

It's a Catholic school board plain and simple. You can't expect such schools to promote policies that are not consistent with Catholic morality. To explain it simply without going deep into theology, Catholicism teaches chastity and no-sex-until marriage. Catholicism rejects the HPV vaccine, contraception and other controversial medical procedures simply because chastity is seen as the solutions to the challenges that the HPV vaccine and contraceptive techniques are meant to address.

If Catholics are practicing catholic sexual ethics, there is no need to consider such medical procedures in their view. Yes, I understand that in reality, most do not follow such strict teachings. But the church should no be expected to alter it's moral beliefs simply because many of its members are not able to abide by its teachings. Contrary to what many non religious think... the church is not a democracy that should cater to it's peoples desires. The church is simply remaining consistent with it's perspective of "truth" and the gospel. (Whether you agree with that perspective is an entirely different debate)

If Catholic parents want to provide their children with the vaccine, they can do so without using a channel provided by the Catholic school board. This is nothing new. Those who have disagreed with the church have always sought other means that are not provided by the church or it's affiliations. Again, they are free to do so.

[FiftyBelow]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

As a (formerly practicing) Catholic I feel I can say this, but does the Bishop worry about the potential for STIs when his priests are sexually abusing little boys?

How about we keep thread on topic instead of attempting to derail it with drive-by comments.

[billybob123]

Can't people get this vaccine at a doctor's office? How many 13-year old girls don't have a family doctor?

I'm not saying I agree with the Bishop on this one (which I don't) but it's not like this is the only place this vaccine is available.

I found it interesting where I grew up and went to high school - there were a public (mine) and catholic school next to each other. I can count the # of pregnant girls at my school on two fingers; the catholic school had that per month. Seems like covering your ears and pretending it's not happening doesn't seem to be working.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

How about we keep thread on topic instead of attempting to derail it with drive-by comments.

To me it is on topic. It shows the Catholic Church is a highly hypocritical organization that has done a lot worse to ruin young people's lives than an HPV vaccination, or wearing condoms, or masturbating, would do. They act like the vaccine will automatically lead to more promiscuity, but the boys who've been repeatedly sexual abused by the church....what, turn out normal, upstanding citizens?

[photon]

Originally Posted by billybob123

Can't people get this vaccine at a doctor's office? How many 13-year old girls don't have a family doctor?

They can, but they don't. The 19% go-to-the-doctor elective vs. 70% when offered at the school (which is still elective, just more convenient) is pretty clear that most people won't go to a doctor's office to do this.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

But the church should no be expected to alter it's moral beliefs simply because many of its members are not able to abide by its teachings. Contrary to what many non religious think... the church is not a democracy that should cater to it's peoples desires. The church is simply remaining consistent with it's perspective of "truth" and the gospel. (Whether you agree with that perspective is an entirely different debate)

Actually, the church should totally alter it's stance to conform to modern society. It can do that or die.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

It's a Catholic school board plain and simple. You can't expect such schools to promote policies that are not consistent with Catholic morality. .

Yet apparently the Edmonton Catholic school board doesn't seem to have a problem with this. I think the problem lies more with the bishop than the school board.

Lets face it. Bishop Henry is a bit of a dinosaur. He's shown it in the past with and he's showing it again. I'm sure he still believes that masturbation is a sin.

P.S. I don't have an axe to grind against the RC religion.... only Bishop Henry. The guy should either step down or move into the 21st century. His views on a lot of things were formed in the 50's and haven't changed one iota in the past 60 years.

[REDVAN]

Does anyone have the stats of how many are "infected" with this strain or strains of HPV they are vaccinating for? And how dangerous it is.

[MarchHare]

Can someone explain to me why a school administrator (Catholic or otherwise) has any say whatsoever in a public health issue? Shouldn't medical decisions be left solely in the hands of doctors and other health care professionals?

[MarchHare]

Also, why does anyone think the HPV vaccine will lead to increased sexual activity? It's not a magic bullet that protects people from all STIs. People who are immunized are still just as vulnerable to HIV, herpes, etc. Do they genuinely believe young people are so stupid that they'll treat the HPV vaccine as a free pass to have consequence-free sex? If so, what does that say about the quality of sexual education the Catholic board is providing to its students?

[Rerun]

I would think that a school administrator/board has the right to determine what programs are administered on school property... thus the right to ban the vacination program.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Also, why does anyone think the HPV vaccine will lead to increased sexual activity? It's not a magic bullet that protects people from all STIs. People who are immunized are still just as vulnerable to HIV, herpes, etc. Do they genuinely believe young people are so stupid that they'll treat the HPV vaccine as a free pass to have consequence-free sex? If so, what does that say about the quality of sexual education the Catholic board is providing to its students?

Same reason why so many people thought that removing the control of alcohol sales from the Alberta government (remember the ALCB?) would lead to widespread alcoholism in Alberta since alcohol would be readily available to the puplic upon privatization of liquor stores.

People can't be trusted when it comes to any type of temptation, whether it be sex, drugs, or alcohol. Make things easier for us and all hell will break loose.

[chemgear]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/...266/story.html

Bishop Fred Henry contends a group of health advocates have chosen to "demonize" and "purposely misrepresent" his directive counselling against offering HPV vaccines at Calgary Catholic schools.

"They are certainly not doctors of the soul."

[YYC in LAX]

Some thoughts in poor structure:

* Went to Catholic school from K-12. Immunizations were administered while at school so to me it makes sense that they can decide what is and is not given to students.

* Those who go to Catholic schools are under a separate form of administrative government.

* I would hope/think that parents can get their child immunized at a doctor's office or somewhere else if they want?

* I'm not Catholic

* I think Bishop Fred Henry is extremely uneducated on the matter scientifically/medically and is only looking at the matter in terms of Roman Catholic beliefs.

* I was suspended in grade 3 for telling Bishop Fred Henry to "#### off." Kissed a girl the following week.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Also, why does anyone think the HPV vaccine will lead to increased sexual activity? It's not a magic bullet that protects people from all STIs. People who are immunized are still just as vulnerable to HIV, herpes, etc. Do they genuinely believe young people are so stupid that they'll treat the HPV vaccine as a free pass to have consequence-free sex? If so, what does that say about the quality of sexual education the Catholic board is providing to its students?

Because sex is dirty, choices are dirty, girls who have sex before marriage are dirty, and also, everyone is born dirty.

I mean, honestly, what kind of absurd sex ed do you think THE CATHOLIC school board teaches?

Surprise, surprise: religious organization needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into adopting basic measures of public health and safety.

I'm shocked. Shocked.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Yet apparently the Edmonton Catholic school board doesn't seem to have a problem with this. I think the problem lies more with the bishop than the school board.

Lets face it. Bishop Henry is a bit of a dinosaur. He's shown it in the past with and he's showing it again. I'm sure he still believes that masturbation is a sin.

P.S. I don't have an axe to grind against the RC religion.... only Bishop Henry. The guy should either step down or move into the 21st century. His views on a lot of things were formed in the 50's and haven't changed one iota in the past 60 years.

Sounds like a lot of his views were formed hundreds of years ago.