Marriage News Watch: March 31, 2014

Big Government Conservatism in Mississippi

From Huffington Post: 

Mississippi will require doctors to collect umbilical cord blood from babies born to some young mothers, under a new law intended to identify statutory rapists and reduce the state's rate of teenage pregnancy, the highest in the country.

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Supporters of the law say it offers an important new tool to prevent older men from having sex with younger girls. Critics argue, however, that it violates privacy and will do little to deter teen pregnancy. 

"We think it's a very invasive law to a woman who is already in a vulnerable situation," said Carol Penick, executive director of the Women's Fund of Mississippi, a nonprofit organization dedicated to women's rights. 

Mississippi leads the nation in teen live-birth rates with 55 out of 1,000 babies born to young women between the ages of 15 and 19, according to 2010 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The national average was 34.2 live births per 1,000 population and the lowest was 15.7, in New Hampshire, the CDC reported. 

Governor Phil Bryant said, "As governor, I am serious about confronting and reducing teen pregnancy in Mississippi. Unfortunately, part of this epidemic is driven by sexual offenders who prey on young girls. This measure provides law enforcement with another tool to help identify these men and bring them to justice."

Of course the best way to deal with high teen pregnancy rates is to have comprehensive sex-education instead of abstinence-only "education."

Public School Has Mandatory Religious Assembly

From Think Progress: 

A high school in central Mississippi finds itself in court after allegedly holding a mandatory religious assembly earlier this month.

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The first speaker talked about his addiction to pornography. The second speaker talked about issues with his father. The third speaker also talked about problems with his family,as well as promiscuity and suicide. The fourth speaker said he had a great family that introduced him to the church. He said at first he did not think he could measure up to Jesus Christ so he sought hope in “other things.” 

The first speaker said he used to find hope in “cars and clothes.” The second said he “used to find hope in people” and in “other guys.” He looked to these people for “brotherly love” and “fatherly love.” He said he then struggled with suicidal thoughts, and resorted to “cutting himself.” [...] 

About five minutes into the video, Speaker One stated: “But now I find my hope in something that’s more eternal that is not in this world.” 

In turn, each of the speakers explained how turning to Jesus Christ solved their problems and recommended that other people turn to Jesus Christ as well.

Soon after, “the assembly immediately turned into a full-blown lecture on the supposed miracles, powers, and teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church Representative encouraged all students to find sanctity in him,” and no one was permitted to leave. “The School’s truancy officer, Jeff White (“Officer White”), harassed several students who attempted to leave and told them to sit back down,” read the complaint.

The full text of the complaint can be read HERE.

Young & Out in Mississippi

Some MS. Schools Rethink Abstinence-Only Education

From The Sacramento Bee:

...With Abstinence Plus, students are still encouraged to abstain from sex but are taught the dangers of having unprotected sex from a health standpoint.

Dr. Martha Liddell, superintendent for the Columbus Municipal School District, said the school district chose to teach Abstinence Plus after consulting with educators, parents, school nurses and a representative from the Mississippi Department of Health.

"We heard statistics that would blow your mind," Liddell said. "There are a lot of children involved in sexual relationships."

Liddell said that during that initial meeting, both she and fellow educators were "floored" to learn that girls as young as nine years old were being diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

"This is an issue for our nation and an issue for our state," Liddell said. "We chose Abstinence Plus to teach students how making the wrong decision can affect your health."

Abstinence Plus will be taught at every age level from sixth grade to 12th grade as part of health classes. The students will be separated by gender, and the course will span a six-week period...

Statistics show that places that teach abstinence only education have far higher rates of teen pregnancy and STD's then places that have a more comprehensive approach. More conservative locations are still insisting that the abstinence-only illusion be maintained as a viable education method. This will only happen at the detriment of children, who will end up having children of their own WAY before they thought they would. I'm really glad that these schools, especially given that they are in the very socially conservative deep South, are bucking the trend of other conservative places and embracing the fact that in order for people to make the best possible decision, they need as much information as possible.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/13/4910033/sex-education-in-mississippi-classrooms.html#storylink=cpy

Miss. Church "Apologizes" For Banning Black Wedding

From the Huffington Post:

A predominantly white Mississippi church has apologized for its refusal to allow a black couple to marry in its sanctuary, though the couple said Monday they knew nothing of the apology until a reporter called.

The First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs posted the apology on its website Sunday, saying it was seeking "forgiveness and reconciliation" with Charles Wilson and Te'Andrea Henderson Wilson, their families and friends and God.

"This wrong decision resulted in hurt and sadness for everyone. Both the pastor and those involved in the wedding location being changed have expressed their regrets and sorrow for their actions," reads part of the six-paragraph statement.

However, Charles Wilson said no one from the church had contacted him or his wife.

"I can't believe they think they've apologized," Wilson said. He said only one or two people from the church have contacted him in recent weeks, and they did so personally and not as representatives of the church.

This is why much of the deep South has a bad rap: because they earned it.

The Wrap-Up: February 10, 2012

Rep. Allen West (R-FL)

For those thinking of not voting for Barack Obama, here is one reason why you should (especially given that battles coming in the next few years).

Luckily, many of the trends (though not all) are in Obama's favor.

CPAC's convention began today, which I suppose explains this headache I have.

A British politician has stated that his country's conservative party is "riddled with homosexuals." And to think I thought American Republicans had cornered market on that brand of hypocrisy.

Rick Santorum has a real knack for not knowing what the Hell he is talking about.

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ)

Out-spoken (Tea-Party backed) Allen West, who has many outrageous statements to his credit) may have a strong "well-financed" Democratic opponent for his congressional seat.

Uganda's government tries to have its cake and eat it too...but fails in doing so. Unless you categorically denounce this bill, you are, at the very least, tacitly complicit.

Rep. Gabby Giffords had an interesting request for one of her former aides.

And lastly, today in political stupidity, a Mississippi legislator wants to axe the Gulf of "Mexico."