End The Whitewash
No political figure in America today has benefited more from a water-carrying media than Hillary Rodham Clinton. When it comes to Hillary Clinton, the national media have flagrantly abandoned their duty as a supposedly independent, dispassionate press. They have shamelessly served as cheerleaders for Mrs. Clinton from the moment she emerged on the national scene in 1992, with Time’s Margaret Carlson describing her as “an amalgam of Betty Crocker, Mother Teresa, and Oliver Wendell Holmes.” NRO read more
Last week a Time Editor stated that Senator Clinton was a "moral conservative. Emily's List has donated over $200,000 to the Clinton campaign thus far. Apparently they dont believe it either!

Clinton Has Dirt on Obama According to Robert Novak, RCP reports that agents of Sen. Hillary Clinton are spreading the word in Democratic circles that she has scandalous information about her principal opponent for the party's presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama, but has decided not to use it. The nature of the scandal was not disclosed.

Questions of Romney's religion continue to follow him on the campaign trail
The governor and his faith have our attention. For better or worse, Mormonism is on the public table. The “good news” part, for Romney, is that the public interest signifies how important he has become in the presidential sweeps. Romney leads in Iowa and New Hampshire, and he is now being taken seriously as a prospective nominee. The “bad news” part is that, despite Romney’s desire to think only the best of his fellow citizens — to think that no one would disqualify a person merely because of faith, 218 years after the promise of religious freedom in the First Amendment — such a vision of religious freedom is not yet a reality. Douglas Kmiec read more
New Hampshire investigating anti-Romney callsThe New Hampshire attorney general's office said on Friday it was investigating suspicious telephone calls to voters highlighting Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's Mormon faith in an apparent effort to erode his support.
Romney Secrets The Media Are Hiding From You Gregg Jackson, Townhall

On Thompson's National Right to Life Endorsement
Fred’s Boost? Will the National Right to Life Committee push Fred ahead in Iowa? David Freddoso, NRO
What's God Got to Do With It? When the founder of the Christian Coalition, who blames national disasters on abortion, gives his support to a thrice-married, pro-abortion, pro-gay-rights Catholic, does religion really matter anymore? Kathleen Parker, Townhall
Huckabee: I am only true conservative in race "Well, I've never switched my positions, for one thing. I have a record that doesn't just talk about what I said I was for," Huckabee said in an interview on 'FOX News Sunday' reacting to the National Right to Life Committee's endorsement this week of former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson. "Fred's never had a 100 percent record on right to life in his
Senate career.

This week Virginia became the 14th state to say "No" to federal funds for abstinence-only programs.

Planned Parenthood receives over $300 million in federal funding of which less then 10% is directed to abstinence programs. The American Civil Liberties Union has launched a national campaign to urge officials in 18 states to reject abstinence until marriage education.

Both groups object to the federal mandates that come with the funding. Funding requires that certain guidelines be part of the curricula.

Abstinence Education programs must include the following teaching points:

1)Abstinence provides social, psychological, and health gains
2)Abstinence is the expected standard for all school age children
3)Abstinence is the only certain way to avoid pregnancy out of wedlock, sexually transmitted diseases, and associated health problems
4)Mutually faithful monogamy in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity
5)Sexual activity outside marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects
6)Bearing a child out of wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, its parents, and society

The report that claims abstinence-only education is ineffective is bias

National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) Director Valerie Huber, disputes the findings by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancies, that have been widely reported. "The report demonstrates an alarming bias that refuses to honestly acknowledge the achievements made by abstinence education....Dr. Douglas Kirby, the author of the research, is one of sex education's most noted advocates. He also serves on the staff of the company that publishes many of the sex education curricula featured in the study. NAEA

What do NARAL, Planned Parenthood, ACLU and HRC want?

They want states to cease abstinence-only education programs and to replace it with comprehensive sex education programs.

These groups are lobbying Congress to pass the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act. In March, pro-abortion Democrats introduced the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, which would provide $208 million annually to fund comprehensive sex education programs.

What is Comprehensive Sex Education?

From National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) Director Valerie Huber:

"Most parents are unaware of the real difference between so-called comprehensive sex education and abstinence education," said Huber, "Abstinence education provides young people the tools needed to build healthy relationship, while also offering information about contraception and STDs. This is done while sending a clear message that abstaining from sex is the safest and healthiest choice. In Georgia, when abstinence education was mandated by the State, the number of teenage pregnancies was cut in half, and has been on the decline for 11 straight years. In California, a state that consistently rejects funds for abstinence education programs, the STD rates among young people are at an all-time high."

In June, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a report showing comprehensive sex education spends little time promoting the value of abstinence, but does provide methods for sexual stimulation, role-plays on how to help a partner maintain an erection and suggests teens wear "shades as a disguise" when shopping for condoms so "adults and parents" won't recognize them. That same HHS report shows the commonly used comprehensive sex education programs have little or no effective on delaying the onset of a teen's sexual behavior. That study highlighted some of the most popular comprehensive sex education curricula used in schools and found that children as young as 13 were being taught that "showering together" and "cuddling naked" are appropriate "abstinence" activities. NAEA

States that have rejected federal funding for abstinence-only programs.

The following states have rejected federal funds for abstinence-only programs: California, Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Arizona are considering similar measures.

California has never accepted the funds - How effective has comprehensive sex education been in California?

One out of four Californians in the 15-24 age group have an STI. The California Department of Education reports that 96 percent of California school districts provide comprehensive sexual health education.  All California schools have been required to teach HIV/AIDS prevention since 1992. According to a study published last month in the Californian Journal of Health Promotion, there were 1.1 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young Californians in 2005. If the study is accurate, diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HPV, and HIV now infect almost one out of four Californians in the 15-24 age group.

Parents want abstinence education

A recent Zogby poll commissioned by the National Abstinence Education Association showed that 78 percent of parents surveyed said sex-education classes should place greater emphasis on abstinence than on contraception. Sixty-one percent said they preferred abstinence programming over sex education.

From Our Shepherds

In May, in a letter to Congress, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia and Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities urged members to maintain continued funding levels for Title V abstinence education for youth. "These programs form character and educate our youth about the decisions they face, empowering them to make healthy choices that do not jeopardize their health and future," he stated. "Catholic schools and other organizations truly dedicated to the message of personal responsibility and abstinence before marriage will be unable to participate in government programs. America’s young people would be the real victims of this misguided approach." Rigali said there are at least 500 abstinence programs serving thousands of youth nationally.

Bill passes incresing funding for both abstinence education and Title X

Last week both the Senate and House passed the Labor Approriations bill which included a $27 million increase for Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE), as well as a $27.8 million increase to Title X funding, which goes to family planning clinics like Planned Parenthood. Current law prohibits the use of Title X family planning funds “in programs where abortion is a method of family planning.”

Bush Vetoes Appropriation Bill

On Tuesday President Bush vetoed the Labor-HHS-Education bill (HR 3043), which includes $150.7 billion in discretionary spending, because the legislation exceeds his request for discretionary spending by $9.8 billion. He criticized more than 2,200 proposed "earmarks" in the health care bill, including "a prison museum, a sailing school taught aboard a catamaran, and a 'Portuguese as a second language' program." Yesterday the House failed to override the veto.

Governor Tim Kaine rejected federal funds for abstinence-only education. Planned Parenthood praised him for his decision. read more

This Weeks Headlines

House Focuses on Internet Sex Predators The House is taking on people who use the Internet to prey on children, working through bills that would make it easier to monitor and prosecute cyber crimes against juveniles and to educate children about online dangers.

PC Confirmation Fights Kill Judiciary, Judge Thomas Says

Dems Putting Interests of Radicals Ahead of Troops, White House SaysThe House of Representatives has passed another war funding bill that would require an immediate troop withdrawal. "Members of Congress in both parties should recognize that the troop-surge strategy is working -- and "continue to solidify our troops' gains, and work to bring them home after victory, not defeat."

Democrats’ Negligence on AMT Will Delay $75 Billion in Refunds for Nearly 50 Million Taxpayers Congressman Jim McCrery

 Nearly all House GOPers back Pence’s discharge petition on Fairness Doctrine The six Republicans who have opted not to sign Pence’s petition are Reps. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Robin Hayes (N.C.), Timothy Johnson (Ill.), Mike Rogers (Ala.), John McHugh (N.Y.) and Ralph Regula (Ohio).

Families first Unless Congress acts, 19 million additional Americans will be hit by the alternative minimum tax (AMT) next spring, resulting in much higher taxes for these taxpayers.

From Our Shepherds

How To Vote Catholic

Bishops issue document "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship"

Catholic voters warned on abortion

Roman Catholic voters and lawmakers must heed church teaching on abortion or risk losing their eternal salvation, U.S. bishops said yesterday.

"The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life is always wrong and is not just one issue among many," the bishops stated. "It must always be opposed." read moreWashingtonTimes

US Bishops Offer Chastity Education Focusing on “Faith and Morals and Virtues”

The USCCB announced at the end of their annual meeting in Baltimore this week the introduction of a new chastity education program for helping Catholic schools and other institutions develop curricula. The program, titled, “Catechetical Formation in Chaste Living: Guidelines for Curriculum and Publication Design,” will form the basis of curricula for high school teaching on chastity. LifeSite

Backing Abortion-Rights Candidates 'Borders on Scandal, Archbishop Says

Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, saying the Democratic Party has been persistently hostile to opponents of abortion rights, asserted yesterday that the support of many Catholics for Democratic candidates "borders on scandal."

"However, when I challenge people about this, they say, 'Well, bishop, we're not supporting [abortion rights],' " he said. "I think there's a need for people to very actively dissociate themselves from those unacceptable positions, and I think if they did that, then the party would have to change." read more

U.S. Bishops elect Cardinal Francis George as president as expected

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) elected Cardinal Francis George as their new president as was anticipated. Cardinal George gained the presidency handily winning 85% of the vote in the first round of voting. CNA

State News

CA: Final Briefs Filed In Calif. Gay Marriage Cases

CO: "Personhood" wins Colo. court nod

MA: New Law Expands Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone

ME: School Won't Back Down, So Lawsuit Over Contraception Will Proceed

VA: New Study Proves Effectiveness of Abstinence Education

PA: Judge Declares Hate Crimes Amendment Unconstitutional

Commentary

Monkey Business FATHER THOMAS BERG: History may well show us that November 14, 2007, marked a turning point in the battle against embryo-destructive research.

Sexy Education A modesty movement is underway among college age women who have found the "hook-up" culture isn't all it was said to be. Emily Karrs, NRO