ACLJ Prepares Lawsuit; Maine School District Refuses to Stop Distributing Contraceptives to Children

"This is an issue where the rights of parents must be protected,"—Jay Sekulow, ACLJ chief counsel

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2007—Calling it a dangerous policy that tramples on parental rights, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) is preparing to file a lawsuit against a school district in Maine where students as young as 11 are provided with prescription contraceptives without parental knowledge or consent.

The Portland School Committee this week refused to reconsider its practice of providing prescription contraceptives to young students without informing parents-which the ACLJ said is not only bad public policy but also violates Maine law by not reporting all illegal sexual activity involving children 13 years old or younger.

"This is an issue where the rights of parents must be protected," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ. "There is tremendous outrage and disgust over the Committee's usurpation of parental responsibility to protect the health and morality of their children. We have heard from more than 40,000 Americans nationwide-including hundreds of Maine residents-who understand that this policy is not only flawed but dangerous. Unless school officials make an 11th hour concession, we will move forward and file a lawsuit within a matter of weeks to remove this policy."

The ACLJ had attorneys present when the Portland School Committee met this week and also sent a letter (posted online) urging school officials to "put an end to this illegal activity" or it would assist parents in bringing legal action against the Committee.

The ACLJ letter stated: "The failure of health center personnel to report all instances of sexual activity involving young children endangers the safety of those children and must be corrected.  Moreover, the Committee's decision to offer prescription birth control to children as young as 11 years old tramples upon parental rights and has the effect of promoting illegal sexual activity."

The ACLJ specializes in constitutional law and, through its global affiliates, works to protect religious freedom and liberty in more than 36 countries worldwide. The ACLJ is headquartered in Washington, and is online at www.aclj.org. The ACLJ newsroom can be accessed at www.DeMossNewsPond.com/ACLJ. 

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