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A new booklet on teenage pregnancy from the Diocese of Worcester says that the Church needs to start providing a solution to this issue rather than being to some extent to blame. The booklet is part of a series of ‘Just So’ publications providing critical comment on social justice themes. It has been written by Revd Canon Jane Fraser, a qualified social worker who previously worked with Brook Advisory Centres for 30 years.
Jane highlights the fact that despite having a teenage pregnancy strategy from the Government since 1999, there has been no significant policy initiative from the major faith communities. She feels that although many youth workers in the church and voluntary sectors are acutely aware of the need to work more closely with young people on sexual health, they feel ill equipped to do so and are often fearful of the possibility of a negative reaction from their sponsoring body.
Along with a consistent and positive policy to teenage pregnancy, Jane believes churches should be:
She says: “Rather than instantly condemning young people, churches need to listen to young people and involve ourselves in meaningful dialogue with them. The ‘abstinence only’ message has been proven not to work and may even make a young person more vulnerable if not combined with information about sexual health services. The Church also needs to show an awareness of the fact that a young woman facing an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy may have to choose between options, all of which she may see as morally wrong.”
Around 40,000 teenagers under the age of 18 in England become pregnant each year. There is strong evidence to suggest that comprehensive sex and relationship education, linked to accessible services will encourage young people to delay sexual activity and also encourage them to use contraception if they do have sex.
Jane continues: “The attitudes of young people to sexual health matters have changed significantly in the last generation. Only 14% of adolescents now see pre-marital sex as wrong and this only rises by 1% among Christian young people. The church must respond to this, for example by focussing on fostering commitment and encouraging the development of young people’s skills in negotiating relationships.”
The ‘Just So’ booklet on teenage pregnancy is being distributed to all clergy to encourage them to discuss the subject with their congregations. Copies are available from the Worcester Diocese Social Responsibility Officer (bsr@cofe-worcester.org.uk) and it is available to download here.
ENDS.
The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.
