New York Bishops

The following viewpoint is excerpted from a statement issued by the bishops of New York State objecting to the distribution of condoms in public schools. School programs that promote condom usage to prevent the spread of AIDS are irresponsible, the bishops maintain, because they encourage meaningless sex and teach teenagers to be promiscuous. The bishops also assert that abstinence is the only completely effective way to prevent both pregnancy and HIV infection. School officials should therefore require AIDS education programs to stress abstinence, the authors conclude.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. In the authors’ opinion, what message do condom distribution programs send to teenagers?
2. What has been the effect of abstinence programs such as Project Respect on the pregnancy rates of high school students, according to the...