I think it's unrealistic to assert that a bill can promote promiscuity. Whether or not 11- or 12-year-old girls will engage in dangerous sexual activity is not dependent on what politicians dream up in Tallahassee. Conversely, I doubt that this legislation will be a very effective life-saver, either. It may prevent several potentially dangerous diseases, but will have no effect against many others, such as the AIDS virus — and it may even cause more harm than good by providing a false sense of security.

What troubles me most regarding all of this is the absence of parents in these children's lives. Where are they? It's a well-known fact that parents acting as positive role-models can reduce negative behavior in their children. We must recognize that a lack of parental participation in their children's lives is a significant factor in the promiscuity that's become increasingly common among children and teens.

We would be wise to focus on statewide awareness campaigns encouraging parents to spend more quality time with their children. This simple yet effective approach virtually guarantees a decline in most of the activities we find so troubling among today's youth. When a parent spends time with a child — whether it's reading a book, sharing a meal or taking them for a stroll in the park — they get in tune with what's happening in their child's life. This can serve as an early-warning system for potential trouble and it provides an opportunity to address issues when they first arise and are still manageable.

RABBI SIMCHA BACKMAN
Chabad Jewish Center

As the father of a pre-teen girl, I feel strongly about this one. "Children are a gift of the Lord … blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them" says the Psalm. God gives children to their parents, not to the government.

Making such vaccinations optional and available to parents as a tool they can use to protect their children is fine. Some children are so completely out of control that the wisest course of action is to protect them as much as possible from the harmful consequences of their irresponsible behavior.

But requiring those vaccinations, as the Florida bill in question would, communicates a very subtle, subversive, message to pre-teen girls: "Regardless of how God and your parents may direct you, we (the government) think you'll be sexually active, so we're taking over."

Celibacy is still the most effective way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. It's clear that many scoff and reject it as unrealistic, but for girls (and families) who choose this God-directed way, forced vaccinations are overly invasive and overtly insulting.

Let the government do its job to protect our children from terrorist attacks, from crime in the streets and from abuse in the home. But let one thing be crystal clear: Uncle Sam will never be my daughter's daddy.

PASTOR JON BARTA
Valley Baptist Church

The Florida bill that proposes mandatory vaccination against sexually transmitted diseases for young girls is disturbing at several levels.

It seems to me that all of our various forms of government are intruding upon individual rights at an alarming pace. Our Founding Fathers made it clear that less government is better government. Instead, we get more and more government infringement of individual rights.

If I were the father of a young girl in Florida, I would likely have mixed emotions. On the one hand, I would want my daughter to be protected from such diseases. On the other hand, I would prefer to take the initiative myself rather than to have my government mandate it.

I doubt seriously that this proposed law will be approved in Florida. But if it is passed, it will face all kinds of opposition, including some based on Constitutional issues.

Naturally, most reasonable people are in favor of preventing sexually transmitted diseases for our young people. There simply must be better ways to see this take place rather than by government-dictated decrees.

THE REV. THOMAS E. WITHERSPOON
Unity Church of the Valley
La Crescenta

The bill is a great idea. Anything that promotes good body health for our children is a plus. Where the religious conservatives are wrong is in assuming that being vaccinated against a sexually-transmitted disease will automatically turn the young virgins into nymphomaniacs.

What if one of these young girls happened to be raped and what if she had not been vaccinated against the virus? What are her parents going to say when she asks them why they didn't protect her with the vaccination? Having good morals must not be inculcated through fear. When one raises his/her daughter in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, one would hope that the child learns to do what is right simply because it is right, not because she is afraid of catching the creepy-crud, or whatever disease is out there.

I understand the worry of sending the wrong message, but to withhold a vaccination from one's child on religious grounds could be regarded as child abuse. And as the child matures, she might regard such denial of medicine in a similar vein.

THE REV. C.L. "SKIP" LINDEMAN
Congregational Church of the Lighted Window
United Church of Christ
La Cañada Flintridge

You love your children. You want the best for your children. You protect and guard your children. You watch over your children. You try to give your children the best opportunity to succeed. You teach your children morals and values so that they can discern right from wrong. And they still make mistakes. They still make choices that you wished they hadn't. They, like you, are human creatures subject to the consequences of the faults and folly of being human. God knows, you create a garden around them, give them rules to live by within those boundaries for their own sake and protection and yet they still make the less than perfect choice.

Wouldn't you therefore want to take another step to protect and guard your children so that they will have the best opportunity to succeed by removing another obstacle? To immunize your daughter against the human papillomavirus virus is not to say, "Now it's OK to go have sex." It is another way to express your love and concern for her. It is another way to guard her against someone else's mistake in the future, for you cannot control the past of the partner she ultimately chooses.

GALEN GOBEN
Foothill Christian Church
La Crescenta

The Baha’i Faith has no official position regarding immunization, but our writings do refer positively to the use of medical science in treating and preventing disease.

We are told by Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, that our purpose in life is to know God and to help carry forward an ever advancing civilization. We can best accomplish our purpose and goals in life by maintaining good physical and spiritual health and by protecting ourselves and our children from disease.

Protecting girls from contracting sexually-transmitted human papillomavirus and from subsequently developing cervical cancer is far different from promoting or allowing promiscuity in teens. It no more promotes pre-marital sex than does immunization against rubella, which protects against contracting that potentially devastating disease during future pregnancies.

We are not promoting a girl’s early sexual activity by protecting her future children from the effects of prenatal disease. Neither are we giving a green light to sexual experimentation by guarding against future development of cancer and for taking part in controlling the spread of disease. It is the responsibility of parents, supported by the religious community, to instill a sense of moral decency and chaste behavior into their children.

A noted Bahá’í author pointed out that, “were the commands of the prophets concerning chastity in sexual relations generally observed, another fertile cause of disease would be eliminated. The loathsome venereal diseases, which wreck the health of so many thousands today, innocent as well as guilty, babes as well as parents, would very soon be entirely a thing of the past.”

God’s laws promote the health and well-being of individuals and of society. In a perfect world, there would be no sexually transmitted diseases. Sexual relations would remain within the bounds of a married relationship. That is not the world in which we live. We are all responsible for protecting the health of our children and of society, not only by promoting healthful, spiritual behavior, but also by wisely and compassionately utilizing the gifts of medical science.

BARBARA CRAMER
Secretary
Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Glendale

Cancer — any kind — is an ugly disease. Any clergyman who has spent any time holding the hand of a dying patient and counseling the wounded family has undoubtedly said a prayer to find a cure for such a dreaded disease.

Yes, even though cancer therapy has come a long way, no one will argue that the occurrence of cancer continues to devastate individuals and their families.

If a vaccine can prevent cancer, we need to be thankful that we are one step closer to eradicating a horrible disease, especially its cervical variety. I do not buy the argument that this will promote promiscuity among teens. If it does, then are we to assume the opposite it true? That is, will the unavailability of the vaccine lead to less promiscuity among youth?

In a world where children are bombarded with sexual content 24/7, the threat of casual and dangerous sex is unavoidable. It is all around us. Sex sells and it is being used to market everything to everyone, including our children. The real challenge for clergy and people of faith is to engage parents in a dialogue with their children about sex and sexual expressions.

This dialogue is not the responsibility of government, but one which falls in the sacred category of parenting.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN
Armenian Church Youth Ministries
In His Shoes Mission