Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J.
President, College of the Holy Cross
Dear Father McFarland:
I am writing
to inform you of the evil nature of an event that is scheduled to take place
on the Holy Cross Campus on
What I find appalling about this event as do many other alumni of Holy Cross with whom I have communicated is that the sponsor as well as a number of participant organizations advocate for or support policies completely contrary to the Catholic faith and teachings. For this reason and more that I will talk about, I am asking you to immediately cancel this event.
First though, it is appropriate to mention that the event sponsor, Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy, will be presenting its Leadership Award to Governor Deval Patrick for “…individual policy makers who have made a significant contribution to teen pregnancy prevention and/or other services….” Yet, the Governor in June decided not to accept $700,000+ available from the Federal government to teach abstinence-until-marriage education.
The National Abstinence Education Association ran an advertisement I have included as attachment #2 asking people in the Commonwealth to call Governor Patrick and request him to accept these Federal funds, just like preceding governors have done. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of calls were directed to the Governor’s office urging him to accept the federal funds. He refused citing a preference for “comprehensive sex education programs” which are revealed below. He has also requested 1 billion dollars for “life sciences” research which includes destructive embryonic stem cell research which the Catholic Church opposes. Governor Patrick does not belong on the Holy Cross campus.
Not surprisingly,
the
programs “…not only inadequate, but in fact detrimental to the health of …young people…” Can you believe it? Abstinence is detrimental to the health of young people? No wonder Governor Patrick was the choice for its award this year!
In addition to the event sponsor, you should be aware of other speakers and conference workshop leaders representing organizations that are even worse examples of groups that should not be using the Holy Cross name to support their agenda. These are:
·
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts operates multiple
abortion clinics in
·
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is a leading pro-choice
organizer and advocate in
· Judicial Consent for Minors Lawyer Referral Panel supports efforts by minors seeking legal consent to obtain an abortion. Jamie Sabino, the workshop speaker, is a past board member of Planned Parenthood and supports the efforts of the Panel in obtaining judicial authorizations for abortions on minor children. There is no web site for this group, but we can provide the archival information we found during our research. In addition, Attorney Philip D. Moran, a Holy Cross graduate, has debated her and is familiar with her work to help minors get around the state parental consent law. Attorney Moran can be reached at (978) 745-6085.
·
Dr. Douglas Kirby, the keynote speaker for the event, is an employee
of ETR Associates. ETR Associates is a Planned Parenthood spinoff. It was originally
the education department of Planned Parenthood in
·
Megara Bell representing Partners in Sex Education has previously
appeared on other
Teen pregnancy is a serious problem in this country and abortion violates all of the tenets of our faith. Will Holy Cross allow organizations which essentially promote teen sex and abortion to come on campus in violation of our very beliefs? If you are not already convinced you should cancel this event, let me provide some more background information on comprehensive sex education programs to aid you.
Carol Everett, a former abortion clinic manager and author of the book “Blood Money: Getting Rich Off a Woman’s Right to Choose” stated to me that she and other “comprehensive sex educators” would urge kids to have sex and to use condoms and birth control devices knowing the kids would come to her for these devices. Then, when the condoms or devices were not used properly or failed, the kids would come back to her for their abortions. Carol will repeat what I just said if you call her on (512) 255-2088 or email her at carol@heidigroup.org
Publishers of comprehensive sex education programs will tell you they talk about abstinence in their programs. However, the truth is that abstinence is barely mentioned. The Heritage Foundation evaluated comprehensive sex programs in 2004 and found that they devoted less than 4.7% of their pages and content to abstinence education. This study is included as attachment #3.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report on comprehensive sex education earlier this year in which it reviewed nine (9) curriculums currently delivered to the nation’s children. I quote some of the content the Department cited from its review of these programs:
· “Showering together is a green light (no risk) activity.”
· “Continue stimulating one another, relax and enjoy the fun, wait a while and start playing again using the condom as part of the play.”
· When buying condoms, “…wear shades or a disguise so no one will recognize you…”
· “Abortion is a fairly simple procedure for ending a pregnancy within the first few months.”
· “Express your feelings with greater physical intimacy: deep kissing; petting; touching above the waist, touching below the waist, touching without clothes on; touching the other person’s sexual organs, having sexual intercourse – vaginal, oral, anal.”
· “Understand that contraception is a way to gain control over one’s body, one’s life and one’s future.”
The complete U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study is included as attachment #4.
Last week
Rod Murphy, the Director of Problem Pregnancy in
I am deeply
saddened and very troubled by the practices these organizations support and
intend to bring to your campus on
Very truly yours,
Raymond Ruddy ‘65
Cc: Sean Cardinal O’Malley
Bishop Robert J. McManus
Chairman Michael Gilleran, Esq
Chairman John A. Kaneb
Attachments