ACLU Challenges Federally Funded Abstinence Program

Yesterday the ACLU announced that it has filed suit in federal district court in Massachusetts against the US Department of Health and Human Services challenging federal funding of an abstinence program known as the Silver Ring Thing. Funded with over $1 million in federal grant money during the past three years, the program describes itself as "offering a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as the best way to live a sexually pure life." The director of the Massachusetts ACLU claimed that the funding here amounted to federal underwriting of "religious indoctrination" in violation of the Establishment Clause. In its full complaint, the ACLU says that the three-hour multi-media presentation featured by the Silver Ring Thing is "permeated with religion", and that its 12-step follow-up program is also "highly religious". Further information on the lawsuit can be found in a report in today's Medical News Today.