faith
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE Communicating a Threat to the family Fr John Boyle
Finding ways of helping parents to take on board their role as primary ‘educators in chastity’, and to be aware of the practical ways in which this role is being undermined, is an important task today. It is another of those areas where the subtle and not so subtle cultural tide is coming in the opposite direction. It is another of those areas where priests need to be clear as well as sensitive, and they need support in this. The following is a development upon a piece Fr John Boyle made available to his parishioners in South Ashford, Kent.
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t is not often a Parish Priest issues a‘Pastoral Letter’ to his
Much more widely known and accessible to the young is the
parishioners. I feel moved to write about what I perceive to be
Brook Advisory Centre, which provides ‘free, confidential sex
a critical cultural situation. Powerful well-funded agencies, often
advice and contraception to all young people.’ A visit to their
promoted by the State (I avoid the word ‘Government’ as I do
website, which has as its motto ‘putting young people first,’
not want to speak in party-political terms), are mounting a
lists having sex, receiving confidential advice, receiving
relentless onslaught upon the family and especially the
contraceptive treatment and buying condoms among
moral sense of our young people.
the rights of “young people”.
Almost every organisation that has anything to do with the
There are links to other ‘helpful’ websites such as the BPAS
family, health, education is targeted by these agencies. Perhaps
(British Pregnancy Advisory Service – which describes itself as
most pernicious is the targeting of the very young in ways that
‘the leading provider of abortion services in the UK’), Childline
bypass parents. This culture was recently further supported by
(which advises a girl named Chantelle, aged 14, that if she
the defeat of a ten-minute rule bill in the House of Commons
is afraid that she might be pregnant she can still prevent
which envisaged greater rights of parents to know what about
pregnancy by using emergency contraception up to three
their children’s medical treatment.
days after intercourse), [http://www.childline.org.uk/pdfs/infopregnancyandcontraception.pdf] Like It Is [www.likeitis.org]
Our local Primary Care Trust operates a clinic for young
which is run by Marie Stopes International (MSI) and is described
people which “provides a wide range of information and
as a website for 11-15 year olds, providing advice on issues such
advice on issues regarding sexual health such as; fertility,
as contraception, periods, teenage pregnancy, sex and sexuality.
unplanned pregnancy and contraception. There is also a full
MSI runs many of the abortion ‘clinics’ throughout the country
contraception service offering condoms, pills, emergency
and provides services such as abortion, contraception,
contraception and pregnancy testing. This service is aimed
‘emergency contraception’, female sterilisation, screening,
at people under 25, with no lower age range” (see their
vasectomy and so on. I would advise every parent to view this
website, my emphasis).
website, directed as it is at 11-15 year olds. Parents should note
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE
that this website brazenly drives a wedge between parents and Whenever the phrase ‘emergency contraception’ is used, what
children by including a ‘Hide this page’ icon, a feature which
is meant is the ‘morning-after pill’ which works to ensure that –
enables a child to press it quickly if he/she is unexpectedly
should conception have occurred – the newly conceived embryo
disturbed by a parent.
does not implant in the mother’s womb and a miscarriage is provoked. When you read ‘emergency contraception’ you
A local pharmacist at a major supermarket was recently
should understand ‘pharmaceutical abortion’.
featured in our local newspaper holding cards produced by
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JULY/AUGUST 2007