Dateline Sacramento (11/19/2009)
News with a View from the California Capitol
November 19, 2009
Difficult Lessons Learned
Mistakes made in youth, as the former Miss California, Carrie Prejean, recently discovered, can have far-reaching consequences. The 22-year-old was catapulted onto the national stage for her honest remarks about marriage to a pageant judge who had a pro-homosexual agenda. Prejean, like many of us, had made mistakes in her youth – mistakes that came back to haunt her under the spotlight of media scrutiny. A sexually explicit video, which she called, “the worst mistake of my life,” came to light.
Many teens that interact with their peers through a variety of technological devices – texting on cell phones, chatting online, and journaling on social networks – may have developed a carelessness due to familiarity. Teens, who often view their online profiles more as personal diaries, fail to realize the outer bounds and finality of cyberspace. Once a message or photo is sent or posted online, it travels infinitely in a matter of minutes.
Today’s technological devices bombard teens and children – who lack an adult’s judgment – with messages tinged with sex, glitz, and media power. The technology of cyberspace has enlarged their world, yet their habitual use of computers and cell phones has dampened their sense of the potential dangers involved.
Prejean, in a recent interview with Christianity Today, explained, “It was a really stupid, stupid decision that I made. But I take full responsibility for it. Did I think I would ever be a celebrity or that my boyfriend at the time, who I sent it to, would ever blackmail me? No. I think we all make mistakes and we all do things when we're young that sometimes backfire later in life.” She hopes the lessons she learned will help others to avoid some of the same mistakes. “All Christians fall short, and hopefully mothers can hear my story and check their daughters' cell phones and Facebook pages. Young people are doing it every single day.”
She’s right. Twenty percent (1 in 5) teens report that they have “electronically sent or posted online nude or semi-nude pictures or videos of themselves.” Nearly two-thirds of young adults aged 20-26 admitted sending such messages. Known as “sexting,” this phenomenon reaps serious consequences from embarrassment to criminal prosecution. One teen committed suicide after a photo she sent went global, and young men have been labeled and forced to register as sex offenders.
Childhood innocence has been corrupted by media campaigns using “sex” to sell everything from clothes to video games, and the messages have had a direct effect on our teens and “tweens”’ views of sexuality. Teens admit they feel “conflicted” about this behavior, yet – while knowing that intimate content may be spread throughout cyberspace – they feel pressured to do so. Half said they did so in response to “pressure from a guy,” and 85 percent of girls said they sent such messages or photos to “get or keep a guy’s attention.” Add to peer pressure the whopping 90 to 95 percent of school children carrying a cell phone – many of them with unlimited Web access and built-in cameras – and we have a recipe for disaster.
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, in its 2008 Sex and Tech survey report offers suggestions to both parents and teens to prevent other young teens from falling into the same trap that Carrie Prejean did.
Think about potential consequences before pressing “send”:
- Don’t assume anything you send or post is going to remain private.
- There is no changing your mind in cyberspace – anything you send or post will never truly go away.
- Don’t give into the pressure to do something that makes you uncomfortable, especially in cyberspace.
- Consider the recipient’s reaction.
- Nothing is truly anonymous.
Talk to your kids about sex and technology:
- Talk to your kids about what they are doing in cyberspace.
- Know those with whom your kids are communicating.
- Consider limitations on electronic communication.
- Be aware of what your teens are posting publicly.
- Set expectations.
Rise In STDs Impacts Teens and Young Adults – Despite Comprehensive Sex-education Programs
When President George W. Bush incorporated abstinence-only education as part of his strategy to protect children and to prevent sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), advocates of comprehensive sex education (condom-based) became outraged. They argued all sex education programs must include safe-sex practices and that condom use was necessary to reduce unintended pregnancies and STDs.
Supporters of both comprehensive sex-education and abstinence-centered programs agree that the primary goal of any program should be the prevention of teen pregnancy, the prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases and the need for abortions. However, how well have current efforts accomplished the stated goals?
While United States’ teen birth rates remain higher than any other developed nation, the recent findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal the current failure of U.S. comprehensive sex-education programs in preventing sexually transmitted diseases. According to the CDC’s Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance for 2008, the rates of the three most-common sexually transmitted diseases – chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis – are on the rise after experiencing several years of decline. Based on the study, the number of reported chlamydia cases increased from 1.1 million in 2007 to 1.2.million in 2008. There were 336,742 reported cases of gonorrhea in 2008, according to the study. After almost eliminating syphilis in the late 1990s and early 2000s, syphilis appears to be on the rise again; there was an 18 percent increase in 2008 based on 13,500 reported cases.
Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, if detected, are treatable. However, untreated cases can result in infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy (i.e., tubal pregnancy), infection in newborns, or HIV. John Douglas, director of the sexually transmitted disease division at CDC, states, “…we (the United States) have among the highest rates of [sexually-transmitted infections] of any developed country in the world.”
Further, women, teens, blacks and men who have sex with men (MSM) disproportionately experience higher rates of STDs according to the study. CDC estimates that there are 19 million new STD( cases a year, nearly half are found among 15- to 24-year-olds.
The following are several surprising facts that raise concerns regarding the rise of STDs:
The CDC’s Douglas, who discounts the effectiveness of abstinence-only programs, believes that improved sex-education programs could curb the rising rates. He believes that abstinence-only programs have inhibited providing enough messages to adequately inform today’s youth.
Valerie Huber, the Executive Director of the National Abstinence Education Association, agrees that there must be “increased efforts to prevent the transmission of STDs, by providing accurate information and skill-building tools implicit in abstinence-centered education. She further notes that “fewer than 1 in 4 teens have access to this educational strategy.”
Do Children and Teens Benefit from Church Activity? – New Research Just Released
The California-based Barna Research Group has just published its findings from a study regarding the long-term effects of spiritual activity among children and teens. The survey asked adults to recall their childhood experiences and describe the frequency of their involvement in Sunday school or religious training. Researchers then compared a person’s reported early-life behaviors with their current levels of religious activity and faith durability.
Adults remembered their church involvement as teenagers as less frequent than their participation as children. Still, about 70% of Americans recalled attending Sunday school or other religious programs for teens at least once a month. And 50% indicated they had been involved in such teen programs at least once a week.
The study found that those who attended Sunday school or other religious programs as children or teens were much more likely to attend church and to have an active faith as adults, compared to those without such experiences. Among those who frequently attended programs as a child, 50% said they had attended a worship service in the past week, which is slightly higher than the national average and well ahead of those who rarely or never attended religious programs in their childhood.
Among those who frequently attended religious programs as teenagers, 58% said they had attended a worship service in the last week. In comparison, less frequent participation as a teenager correlated with less frequent adult participation.
In contrast, the highest proportion of adults not attending religious services was found among those who had never attended as children or teenagers. Similarly, a person’s likelihood to switch faith views at some point was also correlated to their early-life spiritual experiences.
Researchers asked if people had the same faith perspectives today as they did when they were children, or whether they had ever significantly changed their religious views. The study indicates that individuals who recalled frequent religious attendance as a child were less likely to have changed central faith views than were those who attended less often.
The study also revealed the remarkable breadth and scope of Americans’ exposure to spiritual training as children and teenagers. Over 80% of adults remember consistently attending Sunday school or some other religious training before the age of 12. Those who recalled being involved typically said they attended every week. In fact, seven out of 10 adults said they attended religious programs weekly. Did this early participation in religious activities as children remain constant during the teen years?
David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, made several observations about the research. “It is important to clarify what this research does and does not indicate. First, correlation does not imply causation. This means that the research does not prove that spiritual activity as a young person causes spiritual engagement as an adult. In fact, the research confirms the pattern that some students who are active early in life disengage from their faith as they get older. And people’s recollections of childhood activities are only one limited way of understanding faith durability.
“However, the study shows that most American adults recall frequent faith activity when they were growing up. Moreover, it provides clarity that the odds of one sticking with faith over a lifetime are enhanced in a positive direction by spiritual activity under the age of 18. And it raises the intriguing possibility that being involved at least a few times a month is correlated with nearly the same sticking power as weekly involvement – especially among teenagers.”
Local Links
MONTEREY – The Monterey City Council has agreed to allow lawyers with the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) ten minutes during their public comment period to explain their legal and constitutional objections to a recent Council decision. The Council voted to replace a large cross which was illegally cut down at Del Monte Beach. The historic cross was first raised by explorers Don Gasper de Portolá and Father Juan Crespi in December 1769 as a signal to the ship San Jose, which was expected to arrive from Mexico to resupply their overland expedition. Read more in the Monterey County Herald.
STOCKTON – The fight to preserve the traditional definition of marriage continues to be waged in the courts, in state legislatures and at the ballot box. Now a church in the San Joaquin Valley, where Proposition 8 passed by double digits, is seeking to undermine the decision of California voters, and wage a campaign to change the definition of marriage. Read more at Advocate.com
BERKELEY – The San Francisco Presbytery agreed Tuesday to ordain the first openly homosexual minister in the denomination. After a contentious debate at the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, leaders voted 156 to 138 to ordain Lisa Larges, a deacon at Noe Valley Ministry Presbyterian Church. Read more in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Truth Project Opportunities
RIVERSIDE – California Family Council continues to expand its offerings of the acclaimed Truth Project group leader training seminars. Training in biblical worldview is a essential to living out authentic Christianity in today’s postmodern culture, with its subjective claims of truth.
The next Truth Project group leader training seminars:
Saturday, November 21, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host Church: Calvary Chapel, Paso Robles (Central Coast)
1615 Commerce Way #A, Paso Robles, 93446-3614
Saturday, January 16, 2010
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host Church: Covenant Presbyterian Church
1855 Orange-Olive Road
Orange, CA 92865
Proyecto La Verdad Group Leader Training Seminar:
Saturday, February 6, 2010
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.
Host Church: Santa Maria Foursquare Church
709 N. Curryer Street
Santa Maria, CA 93458
For more information on attending or hosting a seminar, call the California Family Council at 951.354.8362 and ask for Trudy. Register online for seminars at: www.californiafamily.org.
