SPUC
London, 12 May 2010 – The change of government means a renewed threat of pro-abortion sex education being imposed on schools, warns the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC).
John Smeaton, SPUC director, commented: “After 13 years of anti-life laws and policies being enacted by the Labour government, we face a renewal of such laws and policies under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. David Cameron has made clear that faith schools should not be free to teach that abortion is wrong (see note 1 below). Andrew Lansley, who is expected to be named health secretary, has made clear his support for easier access to abortion (note 2). David Laws, who is expected to be named education secretary, tabled amendments which would have further eroded parents’ rights regarding sex education (note 3). Nick Clegg has confirmed his support for an anti-life approach to sex education (note 4).
“The most immediate concern for SPUC in this new Parliament, therefore, is to protect children from the pro-abortion ideology which lies behind proposals to make sex and relationships education compulsory in England from the age of five. SPUC is therefore to launch a campaign against sex education proposals as the new Parliament meets.
“The ideology behind these proposals include the confidential provision of abortion and birth control drugs and devices to children under the age of 16 without parental knowledge or consent. This ideology is embedded in the draft guidance on sex and relationships education published earlier this year by the Department of Children, Schools and Families, which is unaffected by the change of government.
“Parents must fight back against the policies promoting abortion and attacking young children’s natural reserve and innocence in sexual matters. Parents have a right and a duty to protect their children. Parents were betrayed by MPs, and by Catholic and Anglican church leaders who have not told the truth, and who backed schemes to make abortion and birth control drugs and devices accessible, on a completely confidential basis, to schoolchildren throughout England.
“Parents have a right and duty to know if their young teenage children are receiving so-called sexual health procedures such as abortion, long-term birth control implants, the morning-after pill, or STD/HIV tests and treatment. SPUC is therefore launching a parents’ right to know campaign and will be organizing regional seminars for headteachers and for parents on the threat posed by the draft guidance on sex and relationships education published earlier this year by the Department of Children, Schools and Families”, concluded Mr Smeaton.
Notes:
1. BBC Newsnight, 23 April 2010.
2. House of Commons, 12 May 2008.
3. House of Commons, 28 Jan 2010.
4. Leader’s debate, 22 April 2010; Independent, 13 Jan 2010.
