If someone wanted to take away your rights as a parent to consent for medical treatment of your child, how would you react? If they compounded that effort by actively deceiving you about your child's whereabouts and encouraged your child to further the deceit, what would you say? An effort of this nature with moral implications is now underway in our state!

In 1987, our Texas Legislature authorized The Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenthood Advisory Council (APPAC) to be created in order to study and advise the legislature regarding the problems of teen pregnancy and parenthood as well as the dangers associated with AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The fact that we have the problems of teen pregnancy and STDs is of no dispute. The fact that we need to act in ways that will help curb the problems is also beyond dispute. But, what is the right way to attack the problem? That is the question. APPAC's advice has been shocking! Let's notice some of their recommendations.

In their October 1990 report to the 72nd Texas Legislature, APPAC recommends: "For kindergarten through grade 12, all school districts must provide age-appropriate, comprehensive, and scientifically valid human sexuality education..." They specify that the program must "stress how to prevent pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV infection." In order to meet this goal, APPAC plans to "provide a comprehensive, coordinated system of health services including general health, maternal and child health, and confidential reproductive health care. .. " They want these services to "include contraceptive services, information, and education and be available to sexually active male and female adolescents." The term "confidential reproductive health care" is a cloak for their agenda. The "reproductive health care" part is inclusive of handing out birth control devices as well as facilitating the use of abortion services. The term "confidential" is APPAC's deceptive way of saying that parents will not be asked for their consent or even be notified of such action. This point is made clear by the following section of recommendations also taken from the October 1990 report by APPAC:

Amend the Texas Education Code, Chapter 21, as follows:

 to allow the State Board of Education to develop rules that permit excused absences of the student re-questing or receiving reproductive health care and educational services; and

 to prohibit the requirement of parental consent or notification regarding school absences when they are for the purpose of receiving reproductive health care.

Amend the Texas Family Code, Chapter 35, Consent to Medical Treatment, to make it consistent with the U.S Supreme Court ruling that permits minors to receive confidential contraceptive care without the requirement of parental consent.

In "The Executive Summary of the Texas Summit on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention: Regional Work Sessions" dated May 1, 1992, APPAC now claims that schools already have the power and obligation to provide "reproductive health care" (i.e. birth control devices and abortion services) in ways which "prohibit parental consent or notification regarding these absences" for such (p. 38). This is already done in some states.

These goals will be easier for APPAC to meet if they succeed in promoting the establishment of "school-based clinics" which they also proposed in their 1990 guidelines. With school-based clinics to provide birth control devices and abortion services, they will have the legal cloak of "doctor-patient privilege" to legitimize the confidentiality restriction to prohibit notification of parents.

What does all of this mean? It means that APPAC is seeking to replace parental oversight of children regarding important moral and medical issues with state oversight. It means that the values of a humanistic and hedonistic few may be used to subvert the values taught by God-fearing parents. Instead of our children being taught "that you should abstain from sexual immorality" (1 Thess. 4:3), they may be told by some humanist in a school-based clinic, "Here is a contraceptive. If you get pregnant anyway, come back and we will arrange an abortion. Don't worry about your parents  they will never know about this." Are you ready for that?

In response to such concerns, APPAC has given various statements regarding the need to "include" teaching "abstinence as an appropriate strategy to reducing teen pregnancy." In other words, they want to teach "abstinence" while at the same time portraying birth control devices and abortion as equally valid means of reducing teen pregnancy. However, when they use the word "abstinence," they do not mean the same thing God commanded in 1 Thessalonians 4:3. APPAC and their allies use the term to refer to "abstinence from intercourse," not as the Bible commands in saying we must "abstain from every form of evil" (I Thess. 5:22). That would not only forbid unlawful sexual intercourse outside of a God-approved marriage (Heb. 13:4), but also lasciviousness which includes sexual activity outside of marriage that is short of intercourse (I Pet. 4:3; Gal. 5:19; 2 Cor. 12:21). For example, the Texas Department of health which is a member of APPAC has recommended Texas schools adopt the curriculum developed by the Sex Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS) for use in sex education programs. In its "Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education," SIECUS includes the following in its curriculum for 12-15 year olds: "Abstinence from intercourse has benefits for teenagers. . . There are many ways to give and receive sexual pleasure and not have intercourse" (p. 34). Some of the sex education material refers to such activity as "outer-course" and suggest it as a "safe" activity.

In addition to this perverted concept of "abstinence," the SIECUS curriculum is filled with examples like the following which I have heavily edited and still blush at:

"Many gay men and lesbian women live in lifetime committed relationships, even though they may not be recognized as married. . . Both boys and girls have body parts that feel good when touched" (for 5-8 year olds).

"Homosexual love relationships can be as fulfilling as

heterosexual relationships" (for 9-12 year olds).

"Homosexual couples behave sexually in many of the same ways as heterosexual couples... When a homosexual per-son accepts his/her sexual orientation, gains strength and pride as a gay or lesbian person, and tells others, it is known as `coming out.' 'Coming out' can be difficult because people fear negative reactions. . . People do not choose their sexual orientation. Sexual orientation cannot be changed by therapy or medicine. . . Two people who cohabit can have the same commitment and responsibility toward one another as married people. . . [word deleted], either alone or with a partner, is one way a person can enjoy and express their sexuality without risking pregnancy or an STD" (for 12-15 year olds).

"The telephone number of the gay and lesbian switch-board is. . ." (the actual number is given). "Some common sexual behaviors shared by partners include kissing, touching, caressing, massage, sharing erotic literature or art, bathing/showering together, and . .." (the rest of the activity discussed is something I cannot print though it is plainly included in material for 15-18 year olds).

This ungodly material is fit only for the fires of hell! It is only after much consideration and censoring that I print the above to inform parents and children of the danger of such evils that confront us. The values encouraged have no place among decent people and certainly must not be taught in the classroom where they will aid in the corruption of our young people's minds to accept sin! We must combat these proposals by reproving and exposing such shameful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11-12).

Each of us should let his voice of opposition be heard to the Governor (who is pushing this garbage) and our legislature. School boards in our area are facing decisions about this issue at this time. It is essential that we not silently watch as ungodliness is invited into our children's classrooms. Let us stand up for principles of truth and righteousness in every area of life as lights in a world of darkness (Matt. 5:14-16).

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 9, p. 22-23
May 6, 1993