Ok, folks, these religious right groups are just going too far. Some might argue that they’ve BEEN going too far for a while now, and that may be true, but recent happenings have started to really set me off.
A new vaccine that protects against cervical cancer has set up a clash between health advocates who want to use the shots aggressively to prevent thousands of malignancies and social conservatives who say immunizing teen-agers could encourage sexual activity.
Although the vaccine will not become available until next year at the earliest, activists on both sides have begun maneuvering to influence how widely the immunizations will be employed.
Groups working to reduce the toll of the cancer are eagerly awaiting the vaccine and want it to become part of the standard roster of shots that children, especially girls, receive just before puberty.
Because the vaccine protects against a sexually transmitted virus, many conservatives oppose making it mandatory, citing fears that it could send a subtle message condoning sexual activity before marriage. Several leading groups that promote abstinence are meeting this week to formulate official policies on the vaccine.
Let’s be completely clear here, folks: these people want to prevent the use of a HPV vaccine because they’re afraid it will encourage children to have more sex. Look, whether or not it may give a bit more subtle encouragement to have sex is completely moot here. It may, and it may not. We can’t know until we start using it. However, can you REALLY tell me that there’s any benevolent christian reason to PREVENT the use of a vaccine for an incurable virus that causes cervical cancer?
Using what can only be described as one of the most dangerous and ridiculous thought processes that relate to modern medicine, a pharmacist refused to give a rape victim the morning after pill to prevent her unwanted pregnancy. I’ve ranted before about this idea that a pharmacist has the right to deny a patient medicine that the doctor has legally prescribed, and I don’t feel there’s any need to expound on that. If you don’t want to heed a prescription, you CAN’T BE A PHARMACIST. You’re not a doctor. If you were, you’d be out playing golf now, not manning the counter at a CVS.
The Southern Baptist Convention refused to hand out water donated by Anheuser-Busch to hurricane victims.
Hurricane victims who wanted water had some difficulty finding it at a relief station in Clewiston Friday. The volunteer group running a supply center doesn’t like the company that donated the water, so they decided not to give it to those in line for help.
Twenty-two pallets of the canned water, distributed free by beer company Anheuser-Busch, bears the company’s label – and members of the Southern Baptist Convention refused to hand it out to those in need.
Resident lined up for miles to receive food and water at the distribution point. But the water was left on the sidelines by the Alabama-based group.
“The pastor didn’t want to hand out the Budweiser cans to people and that’s his prerogative and I back him 100-percent,” said SBC volunteer John Cook.
The SBC felt it was inappropriate to give the donation out, and they weren’t happy when NBC2 wanted to know why.
“Why do you want to make that the issue? That’s not the issue. The issue is that we’re here trying to help people,” Cook said.
No one disagrees with that, but the Red Cross says Anheuser-Busch is also trying to help.
The water has been available all along, but the SBC volunteers set it aside and few people knew it was available.
Look, you want to know why people say bad things about religion? These are great examples. I’m intelligent enough to know that not everyone who believes in god is as dangerous as some of these people, but that doesn’t mean this kind of thinking isn’t prevalent in some religious circles. If you want to really consider what Jesus would do, perhaps you should start by handing out water to people who are dehydrated and possibly dying and not worry about the fucking name on the label. Once you’re done with that, quit your job as a pharmacist or start handing out the medicines that people have been prescribed by their doctors. Finally, worry about STOPPING cancer rather than whether or not your kids might be fooling around. NEWSFLASH: They’re going to fool around anyway if they want to; giving them vaccines to keep them healthy while they’re doing it is common sense.
UPDATE – I just got this email:
Volunteers working with the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Unit honored the request of the host pastor to set aside canned water with an Anheuser-Busch logo. At no time was anyone deprived of water. In fact, there was a huge surplus of bottled and canned water available at the Clewiston relief site. There was never any disruption in the supply of water being given out to members of the public who continued to receive food, water and other types of assistance from Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief workers.
It is an absolute falsehood to suggest—as many irresponsible bloggers have—that the Baptist volunteers withheld the basic needs of life from Floridians impacted by the hurricane. Contrary to misinterpretations of news reports, no one was denied access to water.
One may disagree with the strong stand that many Southern Baptists take against the consumption of alcohol. One may even regard such opposition to alcohol as offensive.
But it’s impossible to say truthfully that this conviction caused any inconvenience or shortage for victims of Hurricane Wilma. The facts are exactly the opposite.
The fact is that virtually all of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers serve selflessly—taking time away from employment and family to minister in the name of Jesus Christ. Churches such as First Baptist Church, Clewiston, graciously serve as host sites—providing a place where food, water and other necessities of life may be obtained by anyone in need—without regard to religion or any other demographic consideration.
—Keith Hinson, public relations associate Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions Montgomery, Alabama
Mr. Hinson,
If what you say is true, then I retract my statements. I can only work with the facts I am given, and the facts I was given differ from your statement. I appreciate your contacting me, and unless I find information proving that the original story is indeed true, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.
Thanks,
George Peterson