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| August 2004 |
| Persistence leads to state web site
content changes |
Travis and Kelly Benson
Co-directors
Office of Respect Life
Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
Lobbyists |
Last October, our office received a call
from Marilyn Mendenhall, a Holy Trinity parishioner from Huron
who was very concerned about the information provided in the
teen section on our State Library website. Included in this
information were links to Planned Parenthood, a website by another
pro-abortion supporter, the Kaiser Foundation, and a link to
a website entitled “Go Ask Alice.”
These offensive links, among other things, encourage the use
of condoms and birth control and advise on how to do obtain
it without parental knowledge. They have sex games and interactive
sex talk chat rooms, and go into explicit detail on how to carry
out sexual acts. There are discussions on sexual orientation
and gay and lesbian advocacy. Emergency contraception, a drug
that can abort a child, is pushed as a virtue. Chastity and
abstinence are not advocated, and rarely mentioned in any detail.
In Marilyn’s capacity as the Huron Middle School librarian,
she and the other school librarians were asked to review the
State Library website and share their opinions. She made her
objections known, but to no avail. Other librarians agreed with
her that the websites listed were not appropriate, but told
her that they were not willing to get involved because they
feared the backlash.
Marilyn asked our office for assistance. We advised her to follow
the formal complaint procedures with the State Library Board.
And so began her long and frustrating journey.
She submitted a formal complaint and appeared twice before the
State Library Board. She describes this process as intimidating
and strenuous, as she was the lone voice of opposition. At her
second appearance, the board decided that a suggested age be
placed on the site, but that the links would stay.
When it was clear that the board could not be persuaded, Bishop
Carlson wrote a letter to Governor Mike Rounds, asking him to
review the website, pointing out the harmful message being sent
to our valued youth by the state. He wrote: “I find it
extremely troubling that the State of South Dakota would encourage
our young women and men to turn to Planned Parenthood for any
guidance, whether it be sex education or the intrinsic evil
of abortion.” He continued: “I believe that the
State of South Dakota must adopt policies and positions favoring
chastity and abstinence over the safe sex message now prevalent
in our society. This issue is much too important to leave to
a balanced approach. We need to provide solid leadership and
take strong positions when teaching our youth about human sexuality.”
On July 13, 2004, Governor Rounds made the decision to pull
the teen site pending a complete review. This action, however
just, has caused controversy and the media throughout South
Dakota reported on it extensively.
Kate Looby, state director of Planned Parenthood, librarians
and others are crying censorship and abuse of executive power.
However, so far, none of those protesting Governor Rounds decision
have defended that the information provided on the web sites
in question is appropriate for any age child to view, let alone
appropriate material to be endorsed by the State (and indirectly
by all of us through our tax dollars). And had the State Library
Board done its job, Governor Rounds would not have become involved
at all.
Previously, Bishop Carlson encouraged Governor Rounds to keep
a link to Planned Parenthood off the South Dakota Department
of Health website on pregnancy.
Governor Rounds summed it up with his statement: “...you
can’t use a Playboy article in children’s story
time. It’s a public policy decision.” The state
of South Dakota, and its related agencies, must treat the societal
problems of sexual activity outside of marriage, unplanned pregnancies,
sexually transmitted diseases and abortions as a public priority.
Children need strong leadership and values from our state. The
conflicting messages to our youth about “safe sex”
have failed us for the past thirty years. Parents must be supported
in their effort to raise kids with morals and values.
Please let your voice be heard. Send Governor Rounds a letter
of support and thank him for his leadership. Write letters to
the editors in your hometown newspapers. Most importantly, keep
a watchful eye in your communities, especially in your schools
and libraries. Find out exactly what is being taught in your
child’s sex education class at school, and at what age.
Make sure that organizations such as Planned Parenthood are
not invited to speak to our youth. Sit with your child if they
are surfing the web, even if they appear to be on a “legitimate”
website.
And follow Marilyn Mendenhall’s example. Stand up for
what is right and have the courage and perseverance to stay
in the fight when it gets tough, for nothing is more important
than ensuring that our country is formed on sound morals and
values. |
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