UK: Young People Want Morals! | 304 | Report 3

A recent survey, commissioned by East Riding of Yorkshire Council and NHS East Riding of Yorkshire has found that young people want to learn about responsible parenting rather than sexual mechanics in sex education. Almost three quarters of boys and 84 per cent of girls agreed that a relationship doesn’t have to include sex. The survey, conducted among over 2,000 13 to 16-year-olds has surprised experts
in the field. Researchers from Hull University said that they were surprised that the majority of those surveyed supported “moral” ideas about having sex.
The survey revealed that the single most important ‘fact of life’ for both boys and girls was parenting. Nearly half the girls and almost 40 per cent of boys considered it the single matter they most wished to learn more about. The findings challenge the current emphasis in sex education on the mechanics of safe sex.
Commenting on the findings, Norman Wells of the Family Education Trust, said: “Young people are clearly tiring of the negative messages they are receiving about pregnancy and parenthood from sex educators obsessed with contraception”.“For too long, Government policy has all too often been encouraging and facilitating casual sex.” It’s time to transform this mindset, take young people at face value, and emphasize responsible relationships.

Source: The Christian Institute; Revival Media

BIBLE STUDY: Psalm 119:9

PRAISE: God that young people want a moral base on which to build their relationships. Pray that it will be given to them through knowledge of the Gospel.

Birth Control Plan Upsets UK Parents | 8th May 2010

Parents in the United Kingdom are angry over a government experiment to give birth control to teens. Southwark and Lambeth, two inner-city areas in London with the highest teenage pregnancy rates, are the first to try the approach. If deemed successful, the project could be rolled out nationwide.
The move is being promoted with eye-catching adverts, but critics say there is no evidence that providing the pill over-thecounter will reduce teen pregnancy rates. Dr. Andrew Fergusson of the Christian Medical Fellowship said. “The evidence in a range of issues like this suggests that the picture of teenage pregnancy will actually increase and not be reduced.” Parents of teenage girls are extremely concerned, particularly regarding their parental rights if this project is launched nationally.
Rachel Gardner is with the Christian youth abstinence organization Romance Academy. She’s also concerned that the project, which provides consultations for teenage girls, will remove parental involvement in this process. Gardner says, “We feel very much that for a safe sex message to work it needs to be embedded deeply within a much more robust, safer relationships forum and that’s where we come in.”

Source: CBN News

BIBLE STUDY: Proverbs 6:20-24

PRAY: That the experiment will show that it is misguided and that the authorities will realize they need to work with parents and churches on a policy.

http://revivalmedia.org/2010/05/07/birth-control-plan-upsets-uk-parents-8th-may-2010/

Birth Control Plan Upsets UK Parents | 8th April 2010

Parents in the United Kingdom are angry over a government experiment to give birth control to teens. Southwark and Lambeth, two inner-city areas in London with the highest teenage pregnancy rates, are the first to try the approach. If deemed successful, the project could be rolled out nationwide.
The move is being promoted with eye-catching adverts, but critics say there is no evidence that providing the pill over-thecounter will reduce teen pregnancy rates. Dr. Andrew Fergusson of the Christian Medical Fellowship said. “The evidence in a range of issues like this suggests that the picture of teenage pregnancy will actually increase and not be reduced.” Parents of teenage girls are extremely concerned, particularly regarding their parental rights if this project is launched nationally.
Rachel Gardner is with the Christian youth abstinence organization Romance Academy. She’s also concerned that the project, which provides consultations for teenage girls, will remove parental involvement in this process. Gardner says, “We feel very much that for a safe sex message to work it needs to be embedded deeply within a much more robust, safer relationships forum and that’s where we come in.”

Source: CBN News

BIBLE STUDY: Proverbs 6:20-24

PRAY: That the experiment will show that it is misguided and that the authorities will realize they need to work with parents and churches on a policy.

Are parents to blame for high teen pregnancy rates?, a spiritual dimension to Jade Goody story?, and the Oscars are boring

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint. Patrick Woodward talks to Catherine Butcher, editor of the Mothers’ Union “Families First” magazine (pictured) about the latest news from a Christian standpoint.  Today,with the news of the 13 year old father, are parents to blame for Britain’s high teenage pregnancy rate?  Also is there a spiritual dimension to Jade Goody as she prepares for her wedding, and the Oscars are boring – why do we watch them?

Story Links:

Teenage pregnancy:

The Sun newspaper Dad at 13

telegraph.co.uk Julie Henry’s blog

romanceacademy.org A novel approach

Jade Goody:

uk.reuters.com Dying Jade Goody to marry on Sunday

hindustantimes.com  Pray for Jade Goody, says Shilpa Shetty

Oscars:

oscar.com Official site

independent.co.uk  All ready for your Oscars gilt trip?