AMERICA/PANAMA - Polemic over law to introduce handbooks on sexuality without any religious and moral values in school programmes

Wednesday, 10 October 2007

Panama (Agenzia Fides) - Heated polemic continues in Panama with regard to a proposed Bill which intends to establish and guarantee human rights in questions of human sexuality and reproductive health, promote information and concern for sexual and reproductive health. The controversy is caused by the introduction on the part of the Ministry of Health of handbooks on sexual education, Sexual handbooks, which, the local Catholic Church denounced, are without any religious or moral criteria.
The handbooks were distributed by the ministry of education several months ago, causing controversy among the teachers because of the content. Several pro-life and pro-family organisations formed the Panama Pro- Life and Pro-Family Alliance. After examining the contents of the handbooks the Alliance says the government is encouraging cultural changes in view of recognising homosexual practices among practices considered normal and suitable for healthy sexual development; the handbooks instruct primary school children aged 9-12 about relations with people of the same or opposite sex. In view of this opposition the handbooks were withdrawn for correction. However they have been republished and distributed without the promised changes.
The handbooks have been rejected by the Catholic Church in Panama and many associations of parents which denounce that the handbooks even treat sexual relations with animals. For the Catholic Bishops " inadmissible is any law which on the basis of so called sexual and reproductive rights and the pretext of prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and early pregnancies, tries to give attention to adolescents and young people with information and facilitation of contraceptive methods and tools, and grants them autonomy in decision making on sexuality and reproduction, completely ignoring and violating parental authority". They recall that parents are "the first and irreplaceable educators of their children and must take the lead in this subject, which is the basis for making sure that children and adolescents continue to discover gently and safely the dimensions and demands of personality growth". In this sense the Bishops support Family Pastoral groups for protesting against the law and for drafting a Bill to promote the strengthening of the family in the education system.
Bishop José Domingo Ulloa, auxiliary of Panama said he hopes for a law and sexual guidance which are not contrary to the family and morals, because "every project which strengthens the institution of the family must be supported not only by the Church but by all citizens who hope for a reinvigoration of the institution, because on this depends the present and the future of our country". The education minister Belgis Castro, said instead that the government has the right to have information on these questions. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 10/10/2007; righe 36, parole 492)


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