Is it just me or does the Bush family bring religion into state matters way too much?
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Group Urges Fla. to Recall AIDS Pamphlets
Fri Apr 4, 5:13 AM ET
By DAVID ROYSE, Associated Press Writer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites) has asked Florida health officials to recall a set of state-sponsored AIDS (news - web sites) education brochures that contain Biblical messages.
The pamphlets, titled "A Christian Response to AIDS," use passages from the Bible to urge compassion toward people with AIDS and the HIV virus (news - web sites). Each bears the logo and name of the Florida Department of Health.
The brochure asks: "How would Jesus respond to a person with HIV (news - web sites) or AIDS?" and promises that "Jesus is our Hope." It quotes several Bible passages throughout.
Health department officials said the pamphlet, which has been in circulation for more than a decade, is on a list of AIDS education materials approved by the state for community organizations.
In a letter to the Florida Department of Health asking that it stop buying and associating itself with the pamphlet, ACLU of Florida Director Howard Simon said the brochures may have a worthwhile goal, but contain a message that shouldn't be delivered by state government.
"While the state must respond to this public health crisis and find ways to stop the spread of the AIDS virus, the state must base its message on ... medical and scientific information, rather than advocate a particular Christian set of beliefs," Simon wrote. "Sectarian messages are inappropriate for agencies of the state."
Tom Liberti, chief of the Health Department's HIV/AIDS Bureau, said the pamphlet was approved by a review panel that primarily looks at the medical accuracy of the information in the material.
"We'll consult with our attorneys and determine if the points in the ACLU letter are correct and if so, we'll take action," said Liberti. He added that the Christian pamphlet was "one of hundreds" approved for community groups and local health departments around the state.
The pamphlet, used in several states and published by one of the largest health educational printers in the country, has been criticized elsewhere. Last month, Pennsylvania officials took it off their state's Health Department Web site after the ACLU complained.
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Group Urges Fla. to Recall AIDS Pamphlets
Fri Apr 4, 5:13 AM ET
By DAVID ROYSE, Associated Press Writer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites) has asked Florida health officials to recall a set of state-sponsored AIDS (news - web sites) education brochures that contain Biblical messages.
The pamphlets, titled "A Christian Response to AIDS," use passages from the Bible to urge compassion toward people with AIDS and the HIV virus (news - web sites). Each bears the logo and name of the Florida Department of Health.
The brochure asks: "How would Jesus respond to a person with HIV (news - web sites) or AIDS?" and promises that "Jesus is our Hope." It quotes several Bible passages throughout.
Health department officials said the pamphlet, which has been in circulation for more than a decade, is on a list of AIDS education materials approved by the state for community organizations.
In a letter to the Florida Department of Health asking that it stop buying and associating itself with the pamphlet, ACLU of Florida Director Howard Simon said the brochures may have a worthwhile goal, but contain a message that shouldn't be delivered by state government.
"While the state must respond to this public health crisis and find ways to stop the spread of the AIDS virus, the state must base its message on ... medical and scientific information, rather than advocate a particular Christian set of beliefs," Simon wrote. "Sectarian messages are inappropriate for agencies of the state."
Tom Liberti, chief of the Health Department's HIV/AIDS Bureau, said the pamphlet was approved by a review panel that primarily looks at the medical accuracy of the information in the material.
"We'll consult with our attorneys and determine if the points in the ACLU letter are correct and if so, we'll take action," said Liberti. He added that the Christian pamphlet was "one of hundreds" approved for community groups and local health departments around the state.
The pamphlet, used in several states and published by one of the largest health educational printers in the country, has been criticized elsewhere. Last month, Pennsylvania officials took it off their state's Health Department Web site after the ACLU complained.