Proof that some leaps of the imagination can be baffling.
DEATHS from cervical cancer could jump fourfold to a million a year by 2050, mainly in developing countries. This could be prevented by soon-to-be-approved vaccines against the virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer - but there are signs that opposition to the vaccines might lead to many preventable deaths.The trouble is that the human papilloma virus (HPV) is sexually transmitted. So to prevent infection, girls will have to be vaccinated before they become sexually active, which could be a problem in many countries.
In the US, for instance, religious groups are gearing up to oppose vaccination, despite a survey showing 80 per cent of parents favour vaccinating their daughters. "Abstinence is the best way to prevent HPV," says Bridget Maher of the Family Research Council, a leading Christian lobby group that has made much of the fact that, because it can spread by skin contact, condoms are not as effective against HPV as they are against other viruses such as HIV.
"Giving the HPV vaccine to young women could be potentially harmful, because they may see it as a licence to engage in premarital sex," Maher claims, though it is arguable how many young women have even heard of the virus.{...}
{empahsis mine}
Let's see if we can follow the logic the FRC is using here. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. They believe sex before marriage is bad. Hence if you're vaccinated against HPV, you are, from there on in, going to be ruled by your hormones, because, obviously any lessons you've received over the course of a lifetime about abstaining from sex before marriage will fly right out of your head the minute the vaccine hits your bloodstream. It's apparently tricky that way. It gives women "a license to engage in premarital sex."
But Kath, you say, how could this affect other women?
Well, I'm glad you asked. Let's follow that one down the line, shall we?
What about married women? What does that mean about them if they get vaccinated against HPV? Hmmm. Could that mean they're going to go right out and cheat on their husbands? Why would they need it if they're in a committed, monogamous relationship? Hmmmm? Furthermore, I suspect these wicked married women are just giving their husbands a free pass to go out and get laid in the back of their local Perkins if they get vaccinated, because why would they need to protect themselves with the vaccine if it were otherwise?
What about rape victims? Does this mean that if a woman was vaccinated against HPV that they were asking for it? That this, like a woman asking for her rapist to use a condom, means she consented? Well, then, she wasn't really raped, was she?
I could go on, but I think you get the gist.
For an organization that promotes issues of faith, well, it sure would be nice if the FRC had some in women.
{Hat Tip: Andy}
Posted by Kathy at May 10, 2005 12:17 AM