Actress Kate Walsh, who plays a doctor on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" television series, is receiving criticism from pro-life advocates for faulting abstinence education for the rising pregnancy and STD rates among teen girls.
Walsh, a member of the board of advisors of Planned Parenthood, attended a congressional briefing on sex education on Capitol Hill on Thursday, during which she advocated cutting out all government funding for abstinence education, according to the D.C.-based Family Research Council.
FRC President Tony Perkins disagrees with her position on abstinence education.
"Contrary to what Walsh and her liberal friends believe, doing away with abstinence education won't lower teen pregnancy rates," he wrote in an e-mail about the event on Thursday.
"Instead it would squelch one of the most effective methods of reducing teen sexual risk," Perkins added.
The conservative leader pointed to statistics from Adolescent and Family Health showing that 67 percent of the reduction in teen pregnancies is a result of abstinence education.
Perkins also cited the Medical Institute, which noted that "sexual activity places teens at high risk for getting sexually transmitted diseases and using contraception does not eliminate that risk."
Walsh also took her sex education campaign to airwaves on Friday's CBS The Early Show, where she told co-anchor Julie Chen, "Abstinence-only is not working. It's a $1.5 billion program over the last ten years that has, quite frankly, failed."
She attempted to link abstinence-only education to the rising STD rates among teens by citing the recent Center for Disease Control statistics which showed that at least one in four teenage American girls has a sexually transmitted disease.
The actress called for more government spending on sex-ed, noting that private foundations and parents should not be trusted sources.
Walsh, whose "Grey's Anatomy" character engages in activity like sexual romps in the hospital closet on the show, also revealed her take on abstinence, saying that to expect "everybody to remain abstinent is just – it's like asking them not to grow."
Kristen Fyfe of the Culture and Media Institute, a media watchdog, took issue with the segment for not airing opposing viewpoints and giving Walsh "a soapbox to parrot Planned Parenthood’s talking points."
"The fact of the matter is that in most schools across the country abstinence is not the only thing that is being talked about," wrote Fyfe in a Mar. 28 article.
"Additionally abstinence-only education receives one-tenth the funding that comprehensive sex education programs receive from the federal government. Planned Parenthood’s annual take from the federal coffers is $300 million," she continued. "None of these facts were presented in Chen’s interview."
Fyfe also referred to a column by CMI Director Robert Knight that offers an alternate opinion on the link between STD statistics and sex education.
"The federal government has spent billions of dollars on 'safe sex' programs in schools for the past 40 years," cited Fyfe. "Yet every time statistics are released documenting a rise in STDs or teen pregnancy rates the liberal media condemn abstinence-only education."
She added that it's not the rise in STDs and teen pregnancy rates are not surprising given that "children are bombarded by sexual messages everywhere they turn."
Walsh spent the remainder of Friday campaigning throughout eastern Pennsylvania for democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, whom she has described to The Washington Post as "pro-Planned Parenthood, pro-choice and pro-women."
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This is a rough topic. I do think abstaining from sex until marriage is very important, but I also understand that there are always going to be sexually active students who are far too young (in my opinion) to even THINK about having sex. For this reason, I think all students should be taught about proper birth control and about STDs/STIs. After that, I believe it is up to the parents or possibly the churches to enforce the idea of abstinence.
Sex ed programs are all a smokescreen. Ask any teenager where they learned about sex and almost none of them will say it was from a sex ed program. It's from TV shows like Grey's Anatomy, MTV, and the internet. If you want your teenager to get the right message about abstinence, you're going to have to do it yourself. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to actually take some responsibility.
People are ignoring research BIG TIME here. It has been found through studies that abstinence only sex education is ineffective. Kids that do decide to have sex after going through it are less likely to use a condom (or use it correctly), are more likely to seek an abortion for fear of shame if they get pregnant, and are less likely to seek STD testing if they become sexually active. Safer Sex education does teach abstinence as the only way to stay completely safe and not get pregnant, but it also thinks about the fact that kids will be kids, they make poor decisions, and if they are going to have sex, they should know how to do it in a safer way. Thinking that kids are less likely to have sex because they aren't taught how to use a condom is naive.
Nowire,
Funny, I can name at least 10 people I knew personally that had "safe sex" education nearly every year since middle school, that had "unexpected" children! What is your point?
So your teenage nephew didn't practice abstinence only, I am sorry, but if you cannot follow instructions then it is not applicable. I can guarantee you this though, the individuals who actually practice abstinence only will never have unwanted pregnancies, or STDs, and the individuals who practice "safe sex" often will.
My teenage nephew has had abstinence-only education since last year--and come September he is going to make one terrific father.
Fact (1):
Abstinence only, is the only way to ensure 100% against unwanted pregnancies, emotional trauma resulting from sexual difficulties, and STDs.
Fact (2):
Condoms, pills, and other forms of birth control do not guarantee against any of the above and are inferior.
ifeelfine72 - I do not believe that I've acted in either a stupid or dishonest way, nor am I a liar. I have stated what I know to be fact and what I believe to be probable taken from those facts. I've also pretty much had it with your insults and veiled accusations, so I'll call it a day unless someone else has something to say.
Right on, Kate! Don't back down!
RBB: I am a Christian, I have a read the Bible and sometimes I wonder if this isn't just a right wing Republican site. I've stated many times that I am against abortion. But lying is not a Christian ideal and much of the "data" "Christians" are sharing on this site and are sharing in abstinence only programs are lies. I'm all for promoting abstinence - I promote it with my son but let's not be stupid and dishonest about it.
ifeelfine72 -
No what I'm saying is that as I've stated, from my own personal experience, those who are in these kinds of advisory roles do get paid for being the mouthpiece of large corporations..sorry, "non-profit" large corporations. I have just as valid a reason to believe she's being paid as you do to not believe it. I'm saying if you want to pursue whether she's being paid or not feel free.
I care that this company has made an estimated 1 billion dollars in profit this last year alone, after after being funded by my tax dollars, to murder babies, etc.... I care that this woman, who's job is to portray an adulterous doctor on TV, is out on the liberal media circuit giving advice that could effect what is being presented as truth to my grandchildren in school, while seemingly having no medical, theological, or academic credentials to do so. As far as I can see, she has no more reason to be giving my children advice than say Paris Hilton, or Jessica Simpson. If you would want one of them to give your children, if you have any, advice on how they live their lives, please feel free to continue to argue.
You may be confused but murder and dishonest gain are against Christian ideals. I encourage you to read a Bible to understand what Christian ideals are....as for "right wing ideals", I care not one bit what they are. You do understand that this is a Christian site, not a "conservative Republican" site?
ifeelfine72 - I hope you are not defending planned parenthood. They should be called "how to make your mistake (baby) go away when you really don't want it." All of their preaching about contraception and preventing STDs is a shell for their real focus...legalized abortion.
(CNSNews.com) - Planned Parenthood Federation of America made unprecedented revenues and increased the number of abortions over a one-year period by the largest percentage since 1996, according to its just-released annual report.
For the fiscal year July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, the organization earned revenues of more than $1 billion and recorded 289,750 abortions - 24,807 more than the previous year.
RBB said: "Personally I don't care if she's getting paid or not, but if you do feel free to investigate."
So really what you are saying is that you don't care about the truth, you were really only interested in disparaging Planned Parenthood and Kate Walsh.
How about you concern yourself more with Christian ideals and less with right wing ideals?
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jun/07060811.html
An interesting article on this "non-profit" agency
ifeelfine72 - Personally I don't care if she's getting paid or not, but if you do feel free to investigate.
So tell me did the non-profit agency you worked for, and with, make as much profit as Planned Parenthood?
RBB - Actually, it is your responsibility to prove she is getting paid to do that. You made the statement, back it up and cite the source. I've worked for and with many not for profit agencies and my experience is that they do not get paid to do that stuff.
Waxman and other liberal sex-education proponents argue that adolescents who take abstinence-only programs are ill-equipped to protect themselves if they become sexually active. According to the latest CDC data, 61 percent of graduating high school seniors have had sex."
it doesn't seem that those who become sexually active having sex-ed are very "equipped" either....especially from std's
Please! Do you really think PP's version works?......ha there's no pregnancy if you have an abortion, don't tell your parents, and pretend that nothing happened.
-- myTmuus
Please! Do you really think PP's version works? Where is proof of that? Not only do THEY lie about what is right and wrong, but what they suggest to use doesn't even work. The science is pretty clear. You are pretty good about spinning the PP side of things in a favorable light but the target audience for you to be effective are those whose moral integrity is not founded in Biblical Truth. Since we have a Biblical worldview, your deception and inconsistencies are like flashing lights. While we really are not dependent on science or society to evaluate what we believe is right in matters of moral behavior such as sex outside of marriage, it's always nice to see when science catches up. So, far God is batting 100%. How about PP?
It only makes sense:
Abstain from sex - get pregnant! OF COURSE!
It follows the same theme of evolution: "Nothing" became "something" by chance.
And then they say Christians are the ones with the dangerous ideas. I don't think I could ever come up with something so absurd.
Eph 4:17-18 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart...
The real question here is...... how many teen STD cases (or teen pregnancies, or any of these kinds of problems) were there before liberal sex education in schools. That is what we should be measuring today's numbers against.
myTmuus -
Of course.......... I'm sure that Planned Parenthood would have hired her as their mouthpiece if she was an unknown, unemployed actress, and not playing a doctor on a hit TV show :)
And no it's not my responsibility to show she's getting paid, but nice try.
Knight - AMEN!!!!!
Ok, how many STD's can you contract if you faithfully practice abstinence???
Survey says....None!
That it works should not even be a point of logical contention. We are not debating the effectiveness of abstinence (I hope). Rather, we are debating the effectiveness of abstinence-only education programs. On that I agree that they have not been effective enough in preventing teen pregnancy or the proliferation of STD's. However, the answer is not abandon abstinence education. The answer is to do a better job teaching the youths of this country that sex can wait. They are not walking hormones with no ability to control their urges. This is about empowering the young people not taking away their fun.
Temptation and peer pressure are strong influences. We need to be teaching these kids that they can be stronger than both.
myTmuus - do you think that abstinence should be taught?
Would she also like to anwer these facts reported in December 2004 from the same Washing Post article?
"The report concluded that two of the curricula were accurate but the 11 others, used by 69 organizations in 25 states, contain unproved claims, subjective conclusions or outright falsehoods regarding reproductive health, gender traits and when life begins. In some cases, Waxman said in an interview, the factual issues were limited to occasional misinterpretations of publicly available data; in others, the materials pervasively presented subjective opinions as scientific fact."
What about this?
"Waxman and other liberal sex-education proponents argue that adolescents who take abstinence-only programs are ill-equipped to protect themselves if they become sexually active. According to the latest CDC data, 61 percent of graduating high school seniors have had sex."
Quote from the article, <<"The federal government has spent billions of dollars on 'safe sex' programs in schools for the past 40 years," cited [Kristen]Fyfe[of CMI]. "Yet every time statistics are released documenting a rise in STDs or teen pregnancy rates the liberal media condemn abstinence-only education.">>
And those who release misinformation regarding Abstinence Only Education forget that many studies have been released from state sponsored medical agencies that prove AO Education has failed, does Ms. Fyfe wish to address that in the media? Will she address the media with the facts that in 2004 a congressional staff analysis backs up what I'm saying? Would she also like to anwer these facts reported in December 2004? "Many American youngsters participating in federally funded abstinence-only programs have been taught over the past three years that abortion can lead to sterility and suicide, that half the gay male teenagers in the United States have tested positive for the AIDS virus, and that touching a person's genitals "can result in pregnancy," a congressional staff analysis has found." Source http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26623-2004Dec1.html
<<Okay..is it me or does anyone else around here .. hear the idiocy of what Ms. Walsh is espousing? She's blaming kids who practice abstinence with the reason for the increase in STD's..Okay maybe its me.. I thought it's kids having sex.. which is the opposite of abstinence which is causing the outbreak of STD's... >>
It's you, she blaming the EDUCATION they are receiving. Until 2004 no one challenged Abstinence Only EDUCATION until a study was released. The study showed the students who participated in Abstinence Only Programs were told lies about health education. The study also showed the AO program follow up with the participants, demonstrated they didn't remain abstinent, lied about remaining abstinent, broke their vow of abstinence or delayed their abstinence for one or two years. However you choose look at it, delaying sexual relations at twelve or thirteen to any age below eighteen, demonstrates the program isn't effective if they still have sex, get pregnant or contract an STI.
You see jar1961, Abstinence Only Education is only THEORETICAL, it works in theory to just say no, but kids don't always say no. So when they don't say no to sex, isn't a well rounded education that gives them all the tools to protect themselves the logical assertion? That's what Planned Parenthood advocates, and that's what Kate Walsh is advocating in ther advisory position at PP.
<<Oh and my personal knowledge is that those who have advisory roles such as hers do get paid, unless you have proof to the contrary what I said stands.>>
Your personal knowledge has apparently failed you because you think Kate Walsh was dispensing medical information, so you could actually be wrong about this point too. The burden of proof rests on you, you claimed she was a paid for her work. It was YOU who said "oh wait she's being paid to say this by Planned Parenthood.....a business that makes money off of unwed sex..." Correct me if I'm wrong about that one.
<<If it's OK with you that a person who isn't a doctor but "plays one on TV" is giving medical advice that would effect your kids, then go ahead and listen to her. >>
And the quote from the article we are discussing, in case you hadn't noticed, is this...
"Walsh, a member of the board of advisors of Planned Parenthood, attended a congressional briefing on sex education on Capitol Hill on Thursday, during which she advocated cutting out all government funding for abstinence education, according to the D.C.-based Family Research Council." Where does it say she is giving medical advice as you are intimating? Advocating that the government CUT funds to abstinence only education is not dispensing medical information no matter how hard you want to believe it is.
Okay..is it me or does anyone else around here .. hear the idiocy of what Ms. Walsh is espousing? She's blaming kids who practice abstinence with the reason for the increase in STD's..Okay maybe its me.. I thought it's kids having sex.. which is the opposite of abstinence which is causing the outbreak of STD's... That's like blaming lung cancewr on non smokers and then faulting the non smokers for smokers who get ling cancer...
FYI I have 2 adult dfaughters. One is still chaste the other waited until marriage....
Part of the reason? Each night when I tucked them in I would remind them how precious they are to God. I reminded them that they are His daughters and if any man wanted to be found worthy of God's daughters he would wait....
That along with lots of healthy lovin and attention kept them pure...
"...Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the nation’s leading women’s helalth care provider, educator, and advocate, serving women, men, teens, and families."
Yah, lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater. LOL!
myTmuus - If it's OK with you that a person who isn't a doctor but "plays one on TV" is giving medical advice that would effect your kids, then go ahead and listen to her.
As for my family I have no intention of trusting the future of my children to someone who's claim to fame is that she simulates adulterous sex, and medical knowledge, for money.
Oh and my personal knowledge is that those who have advisory roles such as hers do get paid, unless you have proof to the contrary what I said stands.
I would expect that what I'm saying is clear. She is just another celebrity that thinks she should be able spout her beliefs and the rest of the world should do what she says simply because she's famous.
<<At least we should be listening to her because she's a non-partisan advocate for.....oh wait she's being paid to say this by Planned Parenthood.....a business that makes money off of unwed sex......never mind.
And she's supporting Barak Obama.........one more reason not to vote for him.>>
As a member of the board of advisors of Planned Parenthood, Kate Walsh is likely not receiving money from the organization. Is there any way in which you can confirm otherwise RBB. To the best of my knowledge, most people whose function is ADVISORY are not receiving pay.
Planned Parenthood receives money from grants, public and private donations and does not make money off of what you rather crassly refer to as "unwed sex." Contrary to the ignorance of those who believe Planned Parenthood merely helps women "get abortions," in reality, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the nation’s leading women’s helalth care provider, educator, and advocate, serving women, men, teens, and families.
Their primary function is education regardless of what some individuals claim about the organization.
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/resources/resources-educators-86.htm
<<Hey we should be listening to this woman after all she's a doctor.....oh wait a minute she isn't is she......>>
She is on the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood. She has an opinion just like you have an opinion, right? Only her opinion goes against the religious obligations of some individuals and prevents them from thinking logically.
<<Well we should be listening to her because she's a health professional specializing in reproduction.........oh wait wrong again...>>
Many religious leaders have degrees in Theology, and yet they assert they are capable of prognosing clients in fields which they are totally unqualified. It doesn't stop them however from expressing opinions which disagree with the AMA, APA and other legitimate theraputic organizations criticize, so what's your point? Are you saying Kate Walsh doesn't have a right to express her opinions, isn't qualified as a spokesperson or as a lobbyist?
Hey we should be listening to this woman after all she's a doctor.....oh wait a minute she isn't is she......
Well we should be listening to her because she's a health professional specializing in reproduction.........oh wait wrong again...
At least we should be listening to her because she's a non-partisan advocate for.....oh wait she's being paid to say this by Planned Parenthood.....a business that makes money off of unwed sex......never mind.
And she's supporting Barak Obama.........one more reason not to vote for him.
I wonder what methods are being used in encouraging abstinence...
The approach taken should involve the wide use of pictures and videos of people with stds as a way to educate.
Forget the money from the governments. Each church should begin to address the problem with their youth by showing pictures and videos of the std s and in addition to that by showing pictures and videos of a child being born.
I suspect that not enough of this is being done...and as a result, kids are not being exposed to what is necessary to make them think twice about their sexual behaviours.
The actress called for more government spending on sex-ed, noting that private foundations and parents should not be trusted sources.
Her faith is not in God but in men and money. Men cannot save us or our children else it would have been done already.
Look at the warped world view that these's so called profesionals have. To say that abstanance education is the culprit. The only 100% way not to contract std's. They would lead you to beleive that abstinance is stupid and condoms and pill's are freedom. The truth is All but abstinance fails at preventing std's. Americas pharmacies get rich when dumb girls take pills.Planned Parenthood gets richer from increased abortion's. These industries along with parents and a church that doesn't speak up are the reason for teen std's. Currently americas youth are prey. Suport the teens in your life.
Abstinence doesn't work every time it is tried - only every time is practiced successfully. It doesn't work many times it is tried.
Abstinence does not work because parents don't and stress the importance of it. Children follow by example. Children don't lead the parents.
Practiced successfully? Either you will do or you want. There is no practice in abstinence. Once you make a choice you stick with it.
If you are successful in practicing abstinence you can be 100% guaranteed of never having an std or of having an unwanted pregnancy - it is the only 100% option
Knight: Abstinence doesn't work every time it is tried - only every time is practiced successfully. It doesn't work many times it is tried.
My Tmuus: how much has been spent on sex education in the last 40 years? What has happened to teen pregnancy & std grow among teens in that time frame?
Knight said...<<This line was rather telling...
"Walsh, whose "Grey's Anatomy" character engages in activity like sexual romps in the hospital closet on the show, also revealed her take on abstinence, saying that to expect "everybody to remain abstinent is just – it's like asking them not to grow."">>
What's telling about it? It isn't a very logical conclusion to make. It's like saying "Robert DeNiro starred as Jake La Motta, an emotionally self-destructive boxer, lets violence and an ill-temper lead him to the top in the ring, but destroys his life outside it, is not qualified to discuss STUDIES that prove why anti-violence educational programs aren't working in the Inner City of Detroit.
Abstinence Only is a theoretical, short term fix because the reality is the $1.5 billion being spent has proven failed results- one has only to look at the increase in teen pregnancies, HIV and STD rates. Better health and sex education is the answer not something as ridiculous as telling teens just say NO to sex!
<<Abstinence works every time it is tried.>>
Abstinence-only programs provide youth with no information, other than abstinence, regarding how to protect themselves from pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs.
Abstinence-only programs show little evidence of sustained (long-term) impact on attitudes and intentions. Worse, they show some negative impacts on youth's willingness to use contraception, including condoms, to prevent negative sexual health outcomes related to sexual intercourse. Importantly, only in one state did any program demonstrate short-term success in delaying the initiation of sex; none of these programs demonstrates evidence of long-term success in delaying sexual initiation among youth exposed to the programs or any evidence of success in reducing other sexual risk-taking behaviors among participants. Source
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/stateevaluations/index.htm
This line was rather telling...
"Walsh, whose "Grey's Anatomy" character engages in activity like sexual romps in the hospital closet on the show, also revealed her take on abstinence, saying that to expect "everybody to remain abstinent is just – it's like asking them not to grow.""
Of course it must be obvious that premarital and promiscuious sex is part of the natural growth cycle. After all teenagers are just little hormones running around and can't possibly be expected to control themselves. If you believe that, I have some land that needs selling...
Abstinence works every time it is tried.
Ms. Walsh is a paid pretty face, but intellegence, she has none. Dollars is the name of the game when it comes to Planned parenthood, who is rich from the killing ofunborn children who result from failed conraception. Its all about the abortion dollar everything else is smoke and mirrors. I pray that Ms. Walsh and others wake up, wise up and stop selling their souls out for money. P.P. is pumping its cash in Obamas campain because they need him to keep the unborn baby slaughters on going. I urge all to vote pro-life.
She's a strange one. Somehow in her weird little world a Sexually Transmitted Disease can be transmitted and is primarily spread without sex. What do expect from a person who only plays a doctor on TV. She has absolutely no creditability.
http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
She's a stange one. Somehow in her weird little world a Sexually Transmitted Disease can be transmitted and is primarily spread without sex. What do expect from a person who only plays a doctor on TV. She has absoulutely no crediability.
http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
Walsh spent the remainder of Friday campaigning throughout eastern Pennsylvania for democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, whom she has described to The Washington Post as "pro-Planned Parenthood, pro-choice and pro-women."
I knew politics had to be behind this.
But just one thing....if teenagers aren't going to listen to their parents, what in the world makes us believe they'll listen to a President?
yes, another sign of the times.
Truth is stranger than fiction.