Silver Ring Thing

Who would have ever thought we would see the day the federal government would provide more than a million dollars to underwrite Christian proselytizing?

Yet that's exactly what's been happening - in plain sight - as evidence collected by the American Civil Liberties Union demonstrates. The ACLU Monday filed suit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for allowing "The Silver Ring Thing" abstinence-only program to preach on the taxpayers' dime.

The money helps the Western Pennsylvania-based program pay for a three-hour "high-tech presentation" of skits and high-energy music. The presentation culminates in students' taking an abstinence pledge and getting a silver ring inscribed with a verse from the New Testament. They also receive a study Bible, which includes passages like, "If you have chosen to reject Christ, then your final destination will be a lake of fire." The program's 12-step follow-up program is infused with Christian language and belief.

There is a nominal "secular" component to the program, but no secular ring, no secular follow-up - and no evidence that government money is separated out from private money used to fund the "John Guest Evangelistic Team," which operates the program as its "primary outreach."

In fact, the program's founder, Denny Pattyn, told the BBC, "We're not really putting our energy into abstinence as much as we're putting it into faith. Abstinence is the tool that we're using..."

There is no evidence that abstinence-only programs work to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, but ample evidence exists that they are fronts for preaching. The "Silver Ring Thing" is just the most open about it. There's no way of knowing how many other federally funded abstinence-only programs also are preaching because there is no real government oversight.

Pennsylvania's senators, Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum, have been major congressional benefactors of "The Silver Ring Thing." Is this how you want them to spend your money?