Massachusetts Bishops Demand State Take Down Sex Ed Website
BOSTON (AP) - The state's four Catholic bishops have joined a call for the state to eliminate funding for a sexual education website aimed at teens.
In a statement released Friday by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the bishops criticized www.mariatalks.com for using "demeaning and sexually explicit terminology." They also said the website provides misleading information about abortion.
Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, Fall River Bishop George Coleman, Springfield Bishop Timothy McDonnell and Worcester Bishop Robert McManus urged the state to eliminate a $100,000 grant that funds the website. The site is maintained by the AIDS Action Committee.
The state Department of Public Health said earlier this week that it would be willing to discuss concerns with critics, but also defended the site as an important tool to provide health information to teens.
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