Sex education - Inculcation not education

The right to free speech is a fundamental protection offered by our society even if it sometimes means that people with odious views, Holocaust deniers, or homophobes, must be afforded an opportunity to air them.

How far that right extends is a very moot point but it hardly extends to offering faith groups an opportunity to visit schools to offer a particular world view on how young people should approach sex.

That Pure in Heart, a Catholic group, is facilitated by the personal choice — opinion — of school principals further muddies the waters in what, after all, is supposed to be a republic.

Reports suggest the group offers an analysis based completely on religious beliefs rather than science. It is therefore inculcation rather than education.

It is entirely necessary that young people be given guidance in the complexities of sexual activity but this must be solely on a rational, scientific, or medical basis.

The denial, guilt, and self-hatred engendered by one particular view of sexual mores have already done more than enough damage in this country.