Proposals by an MP to cut teenage pregnancy rates by providing free contraceptives to youngsters have been condemned by Catholic priests.Recent studies have shown that although the numbers of teenage pregnancies has fallen since 1997, the UK still has the highest rate in western Europe, and is second in the world, behind the United States.
Labour MP Chris Bryant – parliamentary aide to Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman – represents the Rhondda in south Wales and has called for free condoms to be made available to youngsters, particularly in ‘high risk’ areas of England and Wales. He has also called for sex advice packs to be sent to parents on their children’s 11th birthday.
Wales has a higher teenage pregnancy rate than England, with 43.6 conceptions per 1,000 girls in 2005, compared with 41.3 in England. Mr Bryant said that in his constituency in 2006, almost one in 25 teenagers aged 15-19 gave birth.
“Everybody wants to tackle the problem,” he said.
“Churches complain about it. Children’s charities worry about it. Local authorities fret about it. Parents and teachers are anxious about it.”
The Welsh MP claimed that current sex education was often “rudimentary at best” and wanted government ministers in England and Wales to support his free condom and sex advice pack strategy and target those in the areas with highest rates of teenage pregnancy.
But members of the Catholic Church in south Wales said that moves along the lines of Mr Bryant’s proposals would encourage youngsters to break the law and lead to them to engage in increased sexual activity.
Mgr Brian Kinrade, of St Teilo’s in Tenby, said: “We would not support children being given condoms. That is going against the law and encouraging sexual relationships at an early age. It is a despairing response and is undermining what children are able to achieve.”
The monsignor added: “The problem of teen pregnancy is not fundamentally an educational one, but one of children’s self -worth and value.
“I think they want to have relationships far too early. When I spent some time working in a school, I noticed a particular emphasis on having a boyfriend rather than spending time being together with others.”
Fr John Owen, chaplain at Cardiff University, also said solutions other than those of Mr Bryant’s should be sought.
He said teenage pregnancy rates in Wales were often linked to areas of deprivation and cited valley communities as an example, where there are approximately 13 more pregnancies per 1,000 girls compared to other parts of Wales.
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