A vaccine against cervical cancer will be given to schoolgirls without them receiving any safe sex advice as a result of a controversial deal struck between the Catholic Church and health officials, Scotland on Sunday can reveal.From next month, 12 and 13-year-old girls at all schools in the country will start receiving the jab in a bid to cut deaths from cervical cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can be passed on during sex.The Catholic Church originally raised objections to the jab on the grounds it could encourage promiscuity, but has made a U-turn after reaching an agreement with health and education bosses.
The deal means girls getting the HPV jab will not receive any accompanying advice on the need to use condoms to protect themselves from other sexually transmitted diseases.
Health campaigners and parents' groups last night reacted angrily to the deal, warning that the sexual health of thousands of young Scottish women was being put at risk to avoid a moral backlash from the Catholic Church. […]When the decision to give the jab was announced by ministers in August 2006, a spokesman for Cardinal Keith O'Brien warned it could be seen by pre-teenage girls as a "green light" for sexual activity.The programme is due to start next month and schools are set to send out consent forms for the scheme from the beginning of September.
The Catholic Church has now decided it will back the programme, with the jabs being available in its own schools. Spokesman Ronnie Convery revealed: "We have been in fruitful discussion with the health and education authorities, and we are satisfied that the programme to be rolled out across the country now is a responsible and ethically appropriate one."
6 responses to “Ignorance is Strength…”
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What? No sex education in Scottish secondary schools? No parents of 12-13 year old girls to tell them about the facts of life? No laws about under-age sex in Scotland? No age of consent in Scotland? Of course, much simpler to (implicitly) blame the Catholic Church rather than think about a story where sex with 12-13 year old girls is seen as normal and acceptable.
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Hang on, are they saying that this deal covers just the RC schools, or does it cover the non-denominational schools too? If the latter, it’s a disgrace.
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I read it to mean all schools – “The deal means girls getting the HPV jab will not receive any accompanying advice on the need to use condoms to protect themselves from other sexually transmitted diseases.”
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Why is the Catholic Church dictating health policy to the Government?
Is the Church so insecure in its ability to guide its flock (of horny pubescent sex machines) on the path of virtuosity?
Conservative bloggers would likely support the church simply because it’s closer to Gd than we; no consideration for the stats for teenage health issues. Cancer? Pshaaw! Your fault, shouldn’t a done it…you’re being punished for your ‘hormones gone wild’. Apparently Gd was never a teen aged girl.LikeLike
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Of course, they’ve got parents and sex education to do that. And, again, what’s the deal here with sex with 12-13 year old girls seen as normal and unacceptable? And, who are the parents’ organisations that are up in arms? One’s that include parents of 12-13 year old girls? More likely up in arms against those that want to promote under age sex with their daughters.
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I conclude that Salmond is courting the Roman hierarchy for reasons remote from nookie. Bloody disgraceful way to do it, mind.
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Mick Hartley 
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