Bishop laments decision on middle school's contraceptive distribution

Published: 2007-10-22

PORTLAND, Maine (CNS) -- Bishop Richard J. Malone of Portland criticized an Oct. 17 vote by the Portland School Committee to allow girls as young as 11 years of age at one of its middle schools to obtain birth control at the school's health center. "The school committee's decision is flawed on many levels," Bishop Malone said in an Oct. 18 statement. "It communicates to young people that adults have given up on forming young people in virtues like chastity. It promotes a purely pragmatic response to the moral problem of sexual activity in young people." Bishop Malone added, "When contradictory messages are given to children from important authority figures such as parents and school officials, it can only create more confusion and difficulty for children themselves in making this important life decision." Under the policy, which passed 7-2, students would need parental permission to use the city-run health center at King Middle School, but students would not be obligated to tell their parents they were seeking birth control.

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