Unwed Births Plague United States
by Rebecca Grace and Mary Rettig
October 4, 2005
(AgapePress) - The National Center for Health Statistics recently released the latest numbers on births to unmarried women, and in 2003 1.4 million babies fell into that category. Bridget Maher, analyst on marriage and family issues for the Family Research Council, is concerned that over one-third of all babies born in the United States are born out of wedlock, likely resulting from a reliance on contraceptives.
"Many young people are taught, especially in sex education programs, that contraceptives are the best protection against pregnancy," Maher explains. "But that's not true. Abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and more young people need to hear the message of abstinence."
Unfortunately this message of abstinence is being silenced by a culture that screams sexual freedom, just as the consequences and responsibilities that accompany sex outside of marriage are being ignored.
"Children suffer when they're born out of wedlock," Maher says. "They are more likely to become delinquent, to do poorly in school, [and] to have a child out of wedlock themselves.
"[In other words] ... children suffer a lot of negative outcome from being born out of wedlock," she adds. "And we know that children are much happier, healthier, and more prosperous when they're born to married parents."
The following sex education programs/alliances promote a contraceptive-based agenda of which parents should be wary: Abstinence Plus, Advocates for Youth, Be Proud! Be Responsible!, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
