11/05/2005

World Congress of Families Decries 9th Circuit's Frontal Assault on Parental Rights

ROCKFORD, Illinois, Nov. 4 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Allan Carlson, founder and International Secretary of the World Congress of Families, said he was deeply concerned by a ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Appeals Court which negates parental rights in education.

Carlson commented, "In essence, the court held that, regarding sexual indoctrination (in the guise of sex education), once parents surrender their children to the state education system, the schools can attempt to inculcate attitudes and values which families find abhorrent – over their strenuous objections."

In his 23-page majority decision, Judge Stephen Reinhardt (who three years ago ruled that "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance was in violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause), declared, "There is no fundamental right of parents to be the exclusive provider of information regarding sexual matters to their children."

The case involved a survey which students in the Palmdale, California school district were asked to complete. It contained such intrusive and highly inappropriate questions as asking children if they touched their "private parts too much," or if they thought "about the private parts of others."

Carlson charged: "Such questions are meant to elicit certain responses and, in so doing, inculcate a mindset regarding sexuality in general and premarital sex specifically. It's ironic that the schools – which often do an abysmal job of teaching reading, math and history -- have taken it upon themselves to train the sexual citizens of tomorrow."

The World Congress of Families III was held in Mexico City in 2004. There, more than 3,300 delegates from over 60 countries, adopted the Mexico City Declaration, which provided in part:

"Parents possess the primary authority and responsibility to direct the upbringing and education of their children, except in cases of abuse and neglect …. School curricula should not undermine the right of parents to teach their children moral and spiritual values."

Carlson noted that the Ninth Circuit is the nation's most liberal and the most reversed circuit court. "We sincerely hope this anti-family outrage will be appealed to the Supreme Court, which will have the good sense to reject this assault on parental rights."

Carlson is the author of eight books on the family and the recent monograph, "The Natural Family: A Manifesto." This manifesto is available for download at www.familymanifesto.com or contact Larry Jacobs at (815) 964-5819 to obtain a copy.

World Congress of Families IV is being planned for Warsaw, Poland in May of 2007. For more information, see our website, www.worldcongress.org.

The Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society is an independent, non-profit research and education center that strives to be the leading source of fresh ideas and new strategies for affirmation and defense of the natural family, both nationally and globally. The Howard Center is also the founder and organizer of the World Congress of Families project which unites people of goodwill who recognize that the family is the fundamental unit of society and coordinates the efforts of pro-family groups from more the 60 countries worldwide.