Poor reasons to oppose the HPV vacccine

There are debates going on at several Catholic school boards over whether the introduction of the HPV vaccine will promote promiscuity:

'The board believes the vaccine will give students a signal of support for premarital sex and the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops notes in a Sept. 13 letter to parents that sex is "only appropriate within marriage."'

What vexes is me about this reasoning is that, even for those that don't believe in pre-marital sex, I find it hard to believe that a spectre of a death-sentence should loom over this transgression. More importantly it bothers me that these Catholic boards are remembering that unfortunately, not all sexual contact is voluntary. I'm really hoping that this is not an unconscious a new variant of the notion that rape victims were somehow "asking for it" and should suffer the consequences.

If you want to oppose HPV vaccines on the grounds that the vaccine may need more testing or that that long-term effects are unknown, that's fine reason. Thinking that it promotes promiscuity? That's not going to be a good enough reason for me.

Exploitation

This sort of stupidity is bothersome on so many levels. It's mind-boggling to suggest that God isn't "allowed" in schools in the US. Incidentally, since when did Taber, AB become part of the US? Most US schools recite the pledge of allegiance (at least the ones in upstate New York) every morning - complete with the "under God" bit. Even if they didn't I'm not sure how this means that God isn't "allowed" in school. Surely believers of a variety of faiths do not drop their beliefs at the door.

There is a very wide gulf between proselytizing for religion or even granting it some kind of state recognition and not allowing it. As a believer I'm offended by suggestions that God is so weak or indifferent that Madalyn Murray O'Hair or even the US Supreme Court is enough to frighten God away.

The people who put out this garbage believe in a very weak and foolish god.

The Kids are Alright

So says a Fraser Institute report that was quote by BlogTO. Every time I've mused about taking a teaching job in the GTA, someone says something about how kids in the "city" are gun-toting psychos with severe retardation. Sorry, but you're wrong, put away those stereotypes and shut up.