MEDIA RELEASE

29 October 2000

Graham Capill
Party Leader

CHASTITY PROGRAMME GETS THUMBS UP

Party Leader Graham Capill said today that his Party supports a new chastity programme which has secondary students signing a pledge to abstain from sexual intercourse until they find a life partner.

Mr Capill said, “This is one of the most sensible sexuality initiatives I have heard of in ten years. It is a victory for common sense!

“If it were possible to separate the young people who sign an abstinence pledge from those of a similar age who do not, I am sure one would find this group less stressed, experiencing less teenage pregnancy, less sexually transmitted diseases and less suicide. They are also more likely to be happier and perform better educationally.

“Criticism that the programme has no place in state schools is nonsense. If sexuality matters have a place in the Health and Education Curriculum, common sense would suggest giving the abstinence option is essential. Not to give it is negligent.

“If any group is guilty of putting pressure on young people it is Family Planning, who have failed to seriously promote this option. Many young people will be relieved to know it is “cool” to say “no”.

“National and Labour should insist that sexuality programmes include strong support of abstinence until marriage. National produced a 38 page report on teenage pregnancy when it was government, but there was not one mention of abstinence. Such an approach is unfair and potentially very damaging to young people.

“Christian Heritage believes young people should be given the chastity message and would like the Government to insist on the option being promoted as the preferred option when covering sexuality in schools,” Mr Capill concluded.

Contact: Party Leader Graham Capill, Direct Line: (03) 352 6720 or (021) 661 766

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