STD test – America’s teen trouble
In America, sex has always been troublesome when it comes to teenagers and religion, so should Catholic teens be educated in the importance of taking an std test?
It’s a controversial issue in the States, where religion plays a major role in influencing society. So much so, that an STD film aimed at educating teens about the risks of sexual transmitted diseases and the necessity of a STD test, was pulled in Philadelphia.
STD test taboo
The film was pulled from the classrooms of the Archbishop Ryan Catholic High School. It’s content included local DJs encouraging teens to commit to abstinence to avoid sexual transmitted diseases, but also added that if students were sexually active, protection and taking a regular STD test were important. Despite encouraging teens not to have sex – which is in line with the religious ethics of the school – the film faced up to the reality that many teenagers are in fact sexually active. Encouraging those teens to take an STD test has been seen as controversial by some. But it was scenes featuring youngsters dancing in night clubs in a ‘dirty dancing’ style that prompted some High Schools across the US to ban the film.
STD test against church teachings
The notion that dance moves could be dubbed too graphic is seen by some campaigners as draconian – it’s crucial to get the message across of the importance of protecting against an STD and taking regular STD tests if teens are in sexual relations. But some religious schools say the content of such educational films goes against the church’s teaching. The film despite being presented by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health was seen to go too far for the school; it was felt it contradicted the teachings of the church.
STD video ban puts teens at risk
But many health professionals feel that by making the subject of protecting against STDs or taking an STD test taboo puts teenagers at risk. A spokesman for the school told the American press: “There is a statement in the video that if you are going to be sexually active, you should use protection, and that is contrary to what we are teaching our young people.” The idea that abstinence is the only option is however thought to be unrealistic by critics, who encourage teens to be aware of protection and to take a regular STD test.
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