Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

By BRIAN MURPHY; Associated Press Writer
Thursday, December 21, 1995     Page: 1A

VATICAN CITY — Roman Catholic parents have a duty to pull their children
from sex education programs that promote condoms to avoid pregnancy or AIDS, a
Vatican document urged Wednesday.
   
The 60-page text stresses the “right and obligation” to protect youngsters
against sexually explicit media and demands homosexuality be explained in line
with Church teaching as “against natural law.”
    The booklet by the Pontifical Commission for the Family expands on themes
often championed by Pope John Paul II, including making the family the center
for education about sexuality and morality. It also closely adheres to the
pope’s denunciations of trends in rich Western societies, which he contends
exalt hedonism.
   
The commission’s calls are similar to ones made by a small group of Back
Mountain residents last week.
   
Dallas resident Michael Warner took issue with an AIDS education program
performed by the New York-based STAR Theatre. The group, which encourages
condom use for adolescents having sex, performed before some Lake-Lehman and
Dallas Area school district students on Nov. 30 at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre
in Lehman Township.
   
Warner, who denied his religious affiliation had any relevance to his
argument, called the STAR production “the most deviant and defiling
presentation” he had ever seen. Warner does not have children in either
district.
   
“The skit, song and dance production promoted homosexuality, abortion, free
sex (as long as you wear a condom), rebellion, oral sex and sneaking sex
behind the backs of the parents,” Warner wrote in a statement. “As a loving
father, I am compelled to act in this matter as to see that `education’ of
this sort will never occur in our community school districts again.”
   
The commission’s document contains only recommendations, but could escalate
disputes between Catholic parents and public school administrators about sex
and health education programs.
   
The pope encourages expansion of Catholic schools, but places the main
responsibility for character-building with parents. The commission makes clear
that Catholic parents must avoid exposing their children to “secular and
anti-birth” ideas.
   
“Sex education, the fundamental right and obligation of parents, must
always be under their guide, both in the house and centers of education chosen
and controlled by them,” said the document, “Human Sexuality: Truth and
Significance,” signed by the commission president, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez
Trujillo.
   
Teachers also “need to respect the right of the child and young person to
take themselves out of any form of sex education” that goes against teachings
at home.
   
The document conceded sex-related issues often overlap in studies such as
health or sociology, but urged parents of public school students to be
attentive and infuse Catholic values at home. It also accused some nations
“that don’t respect the rights of parents” of trying to inject propaganda in
favor of birth control into general classroom topics.
   
Catholic children should not attend sexual education classes that encourage
condom use to prevent the spread of AIDS, the document said.
   
“Parents must refuse the promotion of the so-called `safe sex’ or `safer
sex’, a dangerous and immoral policy,” the document said.
   
It appealed for “respect, dignity and delicacy” in dealing with homosexual
teenagers, but advised parents to seek counseling for the youth. The Vatican
insists gay and lesbian Catholics remain celibate.