January 20, 2005 - Volume 3, Issue 3

Abstinence – In the News

The release of a controversial report from the office of California congressman Henry Waxman has spurred much debate over sex education. The Waxman report alleges that there is limited evidence that "abstinence-only" education is effective in preventing teen pregnancies and STDs.

"Research clearly indicates otherwise," said MFF Executive Director Brad Snavely. "Kids who are taught abstinence until marriage are much less likely to become pregnant or contract an STD."

MFF interviewed with various news agencies this week, and was featured in a story about the study and Michigan's new abstinence law published in the State News. Click here to see the story. To view research countering the claims of the Waxman study, click here.

Push for Federal Marriage Amendment Restarted

A federal marriage amendment will be reintroduced in the Senate later this month, but exactly what form it will take this time around is still to be determined.

The amendment will define marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman. Matt Daniels, president of the Alliance for Marriage, said the rest of the language should be exactly the same as the bill that stalled on Capitol Hill last session. To read more, click here.

Louisiana Amendment Upheld

A constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and woman has been upheld in the state of Louisiana. Voters in that state had approved the amendment by an overwhelming 78 percent.

The amendment had been challenged on a technicality, and a lower court judge ruled against it. The Louisiana Supreme Court overturned the lower court ruling, however, setting a potential precedent for similar cases in other states. For more information, click here.

President Bush’s Inauguration Speech

President George W. Bush was sworn in for a second term today in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of thousands were on hand to witness the historic event. To read the text of President Bush’s inauguration speech, click here.

FRC Issues "True Blue" Awards

The Family Research Council (FRC) this week issued "True Blue" awards to 106 congressmen and senators. To qualify for the awards, a legislator must attain a 100 percent vote on issues pertaining to the family, as determined by FRC. In Michigan, Congressmen Peter Hoekstra, Thaddeus McCotter, and Candice Miller were recipients. For more information, click here.

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Forum Online

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Lansing, MI, 48901-5216

Phone: (517) 374-1171, Fax: (517) 374-6112

www.michiganfamily.org

Executive Director: Brad Snavely

Editor: Jon Stanton

Questions? E-mail us: info@michiganfamily.org

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