P.S. It’s My Body

Sheila T. Schreiber-Parkhill
Attorney at Law
c/o The Holy Family Society
5822 East North Street
Tucson, Arizona 85712

September 29, 2005
St. Michael the Archangel

Re: Diocese of Tucson P. S. It’s My Body! Pre-kindergarten –7th Grade
so-called “Safe Environment Program” and like programs

Almost ten years ago in 1995, the Holy Family Society engaged in a fight against the University of Arizona/National Institutes of Health (NIH) Experimental Human Subjects Research Project – Diocese of Tucson Human Growth and Well-being Project/AIDS Behavior Change Research – which in reality was sex education under the guise of HIV/AIDS education – proposed to be imposed upon Diocese Catholic School Children Grades 3 – 8, its subjects.

Once again, sadly, we find ourselves being forced to oppose a program which they tell us is required to be presented to our children. Once again we are fighting on behalf of hundreds of parents of the Diocese of Tucson Catholic schools and CCD programs who are alarmed at our children’s involvement in these “safe environment” programs. And hundreds of parents who don’t know that they are the target of this program. Neither the materials contained in this program, the resources to be used with the children, nor the presentation of that material or resources are consistent in any way with Vatican guidelines and Papal teachings on the subject of sex education, albeit in this case called child sexual abuse education, which is nothing more than education in perverted sex.

First, we would like to point out what we believe is a real conflict of interest between protecting our children as Catholics are taught in accordance with our faith and the head of the Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection, Dr. Paul Duckro, being on the Board of the Southern Arizona Child Advocacy Center, a secular organization. In fact, Dr. Duckro is President of the Board and he and the Diocese are promoting the goals of that secular, humanistic organization, which in turn promotes and distributes the P.S. It’s My Body! program the Diocese is using. A man cannot serve two masters.

Second, we call your attention to the fact that as of July, 2005, there were 295,734,134 people in the U.S. 24% of the total population are Roman Catholics. Approximately 60,799,722 million are children between the ages of 0-14, or 20.6% of the total population.

24% of 60,799,722 equals 14,591,933 Catholic children approximately. During 2003, the most recent figures we have, approximately 906,000 children were determined to be victims of child abuse or neglect by the CPS agencies. 10% were sexually abused, that is 90,600. Assuming that not all of them were Catholic children and using the same proportion of Catholics as are in the general population, 24% of 90,600, is approximately 21,744 Roman Catholic children who were victims of sexual abuse out of 14,591,933 Roman Catholic children. Yet 14,591,933 Roman Catholic children are mandated by the USCCB to be subjected to “safe environment” programs, which we believe results in 100% of our Roman Catholic children being sexually abused by what they are taught in these programs and as defined by the Bishops’ Charter.

The curriculum. The P.S. It’s My Body! program is filled with value-free decision making, values clarification, situational ethics and “feelings.” It is filled with “What Ifs and Role Plays”, “It’s your choice”, welcome, or unwelcome touches. “It’s My Body! No one has a right to touch you “in ways you don’t like.” You have the right to say “No”’ to “unwanted,” “unwelcome,” or “uncomfortable” touches. However, by implication one could conclude that you also have the right to say “Yes.” And although the focus is on touches by others older and more powerful than the child, nothing is said about not touching themselves or children of their own age touching them. Nothing is said about our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is said about the teachings of our faith, modesty, chastity, or purity. There is nothing Catholic about this and other like programs whatsoever.

Sexual Body Parts. In this program and in its “Additional Resources”, listed to be read to and/or shown by the teachers to the children, “It’s my body”, and the repetitive use of the anatomical names of the private parts of both boys and girls in an open mixed classroom setting from pre-kindergarten to 7th grade are violations of children’s innocence and a violation of parental rights. The objective is to get the children to name and identify external private parts of the male and female body. Vagina. Breasts. Vulva. Penis. Testicles. It focuses attention unnecessarily on sexual organs in a mixed group classroom setting, by an adult authority figure legitimizing the topic and the terms for open discussion starting with 4 and 5 year olds on up.

Children are presented with books which contain pictures of men, circumcised and uncircumcised, and women, boys and girls, of all colors, shapes and sizes which call attention to the genitalia and how they differ between the sexes. Of course, the questions will then arise. It is inevitable. In the “Tips for Teaching…” given the teachers, the authors acknowledge questions about human sexuality will be asked. Why are they different? Depending on the teacher, this could lead to a discussion of far more explicit sexual matters. Children are introduced to this explicit sexual terminology – scientifically accurate, perhaps, but certainly unsuitable for young children. They are made to focus on female and male private parts in numerous activities. Every time they look at someone, we cannot help but believe they will imagine them naked and think of their body parts. With all of this focusing on what’s under clothing, we suggest our children are being sexualized, sensualized and taught to be voyeurs. They are being placed in the near occasion of sin.

Resources. The resources which are recommended to be used by the teachers with the children show most clearly the real motivation, goals and/or egregious problems in and with this program. Many of the resources, books and videos, including Breaking the Silence and a Very Touching Book are recommended by Planned Parenthood and organizations aligned with the Sex Information and Educational Council of the United States (SIECUS), organizations which promote abortion and graphic sex education.

And please note how this program follows the outlines set forth by Planned Parenthood and SIECUS https://siecus.org/news-updates/ .

For Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten (4 to 5 year olds) the following “Additional Resources” are listed:

It’s My Body by Lory Freeman, published by Parenting Press, 1986. This book, to be read and shown to 4 and 5 year olds, is endorsed by Planned Parenthood and organizations aligned with SIECUS. It reinforces the mantra so prevalent throughout this curriculum, “It’s Your Body” and informs children that sometimes they might like to share their bodies. It is entirely their choice.

Just Because I am, by Lauren Murphy Payne, published by Free Spirit Publishing, 1994. Is more of the same. “I can make decisions. Sometimes I say ‘yes.’….I say ‘yes’ to hugging and touching…When it feels right to me….Sometimes I say ‘no.’…I say ‘no’ to hugging and touching that feels wrong to me…I can decide. It’s up to me.”

My Body is Private, by Linda Walvoord Gerard, published by Albert Whitman, 1991.
Parts of this book, to be read and shown to 4 and 5 year olds, are very graphic and disturbing. It is endorsed by the Association for Sexuality Education and Training, an organization aligned with SIECUS. “Some things in the world are private! …That means don’t touch and do not disturb, unless I say you can”. The book references body parts with names coinciding with those used in this program, “my breasts, my vagina, and my bottom”; “A boy’s penis and bottom…” “My mom and dad say if anyone else starts to touch me — anyplace — and I don’t like it, I can say, “No!” “…sometimes touching doesn’t feel good.” In this book, Uncle Ted is the offender. In the book the mom says to the child, “If you don’t feel good about the way someone is touching you, you can tell that person to stop”. “And it’s wrong if grownups or older kids try to touch or rub the private parts of your body — your breasts or your vagina or your bottom.” This seems to imply that this would be fine if it is done by yourself or with someone your own age. “It’s wrong if anyone says, ‘Pull down your pants,’ or pulls down theirs, or if someone wants to take a picture of you without your clothes on”. The story text continues, “But if someone touches the private parts of your body, I want to know. No matter how scared you are, no matter who it is — I don’t care if it’s Santa Claus…”

The Right Touch by Sandy Kleven, published by Illumination Arts, 1998.
The perpetrator in this book for pre-k through grade 3 is a neighbor. He invites the child into his house to see new baby kittens. “The man said, ‘If you sit on my lap, I’ll show you the kittens.'” “Then the little girl got an uncomfortable feeling. She was about to go home when the man tried to put his hand down her panties.” This book has drawings of the bodies of a little nude girl and a little nude boy, which the little girl is pointing to, and it promotes the Planned Parenthood mentality “It’s My Body”, telling children “Your whole body, from head to toe, is private and belongs to you.” “Now let’s say someone was trying to touch you under your clothes…”

Please Tell: A Child’s Story About Sexual Abuse by Jesse, published by Hazelden, 1991. In this story, to be read and shown to 4 and 5 year olds, the perpetrator is the child’s uncle and godfather. “He made me do things I didn’t want to do at all! He hurt my arms and legs and places that are private on my body….I told him NO! He didn’t listen. He had an evil smile. It seemed like his eyes almost turned red.” “Now I am nine. I still have the terrible memory in my head. The trouble is getting over it. Mommy and me thought of a way to get the nightmares out of my head when I’m thinking of him…!” “When I’m around men I feel scared and embarrassed because of what happened to my body…”

Joey Learns the Touching Rule, video, distributed by the Committee for Children (previously known as COYOTE, Cast Off Your Old Tired Ethics) a former Seattle-based prostitution rights advocacy organization. This video is in play format and is to be shown to 4 and 5 year olds. It, like much of the material in this curriculum, focuses attention unnecessarily on sexual organs, violating children’s modesty and innocence.

“Additional Resources” to be used with first and second grade children, 6 and 7 year olds, include:

Tears of Joy by Barbara Behm, WayWord Publishing, 1999. This is the story of a child molested by her father. “..My daddy has been touching me in a bad way…in my private parts…”

Telling Isn’t Tattling by Kathryn Hammerseng, Parenting Press, Inc., 1995. Stories which include frightening situations, including, for example, “Things aren’t too nice at Jessica’s house. Her dad gets mad a lot. When he gets real mad, he hits Jessica’s mother…She tells a teacher whom she trusts.” “Nick and Amy are playing outside in Nick’s playhouse. ‘If you pull your pants down, I’ll pull mine down,’ says Nick….” “Molly frowns as she sees her dad’s friend, John….When Dad goes into the kitchen to fix dinner, John says to her, ‘We can be extra special friends if I could touch you all over…’

The Trouble With Secrets by Karen Johnsen, Parenting Press, Inc., 1986. Situations are proposed for example: “If a big person helps you at bath-time, that is okay. But if the washing makes you feel confused or bad, that is not okay. You can tell good touches from bad touches…” “If a doctor needs to examine you with your clothes off and your parent is there, that’s okay. But if anyone wants you to take your clothes off or touch you in an uncomfortable way, that is not okay. Don’t keep it a secret! You need to say, ‘No! I’ll tell!’…”

A Very Touching Book…for Little People and for Big People by Jan Hindman, Alexandria Associates, 1984. This book, recommended by Planned Parenthood and organizations endorsed by SIECUS, is to be read and shown to 6 and 7 year old children. It contains graphic drawings of full frontal nudity of females and males and prompts children to help teach “embarrassed” adults the proper terms for private body parts which are then printed in repetitious bold print: VAGINA, BREASTS, VULVA, PENIS, TESTICLES. Children are told that these parts are special. “The reason those parts are so special is that something terrific happens to them. When you are older and more grown up, you can share those parts of your body with someone very…very…very…special.” The nudity continues as part of each illustration accompanying the following text. “By keeping those parts private and not sharing them…with our friends on the school bus…with Santa at the shopping mall…with mom’s friends at the beauty shop…with people at the restaurant…we are able to keep those parts special. That’s what makes sharing them with someone when you grow up a great thing.” The text, accompanying an illustration of a girl with her head down in front of a photo of her dad holding her as a baby, reads “Secret touching may happen with someone you love a lot. Someone whom you would feel bad about getting into trouble if you told the touching secret.”

“Additional Resources” for Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade include:

The Safe Zone: A Kids Guide In Personal Safety. Donna Chaiet and Francine Russell. Morrow and Company, 1996. This book includes “What Ifs”, listening to your gut, self-esteem, “My Body Is Mine”, strangers and fighting back. It discusses optimizing your size, target areas, natural weapons, and “What if there is a weapon involved?” Frightening and terrifying situations are presented to a child, ways to physically engage a potential abuser, which could place that child in further danger, and risk of physical harm or death.

“Additional Resources” for Fifth and Sixth Grades include:

It happens to Boys Too. Jane Satullo, Roberta Russell and Pat Bradway. Rape Crisis Center of Berkshire County, Inc., 1987. In this book the children are told “Sexual abuse is when another person touches or looks at the private parts of your body when you don’t want them to. Sexual Abuse is also when another person wants you to touch or look at the private parts of their body when you don’t want to.” “Your body is special and you should get to decide when you want to be touched.” It goes on to list “Kid’s words for private parts: Peter, Pepper, Weenus, beaner, Pee Pee, Duppe, chicken, peanut, carrot, penis, tu tu, crotch, bum, hiney, carriage, bush, vagina, cooch, hot dog, dinker, jigger, weiner, privates, hole.” The book gives a list of “False” which includes “What boys might think….you might think that you are a homosexual if you have touched the private parts of a man’s body.” And a list of “True” which includes: “You are not a homosexual just because you have been sexually abused. You can decide for yourself whether to choose women or men as sex partners when you grow up.” Tricks and bribes are listed as well as “Escape techniques”: “If you are held from behind and the person holding you also has a hand over your mouth, grab the little finger and pull it away from your face. Keep pulling the little finger back as far as you can and try to yell while you are pulling.” Children are told: “Kids can be strong too….” If you are held from behind, use your heel to stomp on the instep of that person’s foot, or you can use your heel to scrape his shin. This may startle him into letting go. Then run for help.” A list of “Myths and Realities of Child Sexual Abuse” is posted, including, as a myth: “Sexual abuse is only intercourse.” And as a reality: “Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual contact including incest, oral sex, anal sex, fondling, indecent exposure, and child pornography”.

“Victims Tell Their Stories” at the end of the book including:

“I know what it feels like to be on both sides – as a victim and an offender. During childhood I was sexually abused and beaten by my mother. She would dress me up in female clothes and masturbate, touching her private parts and mine. My father knew what was happening but chose not to get involved…..Mat”

Break the Silence: Kids Against Child Abuse, Arnold Shapiro Productions: 1994, a video highly recommended by Planned Parenthood, will be shown to the children.

Psychological Harm. Due to the content of this program, psychological harm to the children subjected to it is most probable.

a) By using a shotgun approach to child sex abuse education, this program does not recognize that children grow emotionally at different rates. Parents know their children best in regards to their physical, social and emotional development. Dangerous and very sensitive issues are covered in this program and there are no counselors or health care professionals in place in the parishes to deal with issues that may arise as a result its presentation to the children. Teachers do not have the training required to recognize and handle such serious matters. Furthermore, in the case of a child who has been sexually abused, what will happen when the explicit content and nature of this program triggers a post traumatic stress reaction?

b) Child sex abuse education is sex education. It is harmful to youth because the information presented to the children includes sexually graphic, frightening scenarios of child sex abuse, perverted sexual acts are presented as situations, the children are lead to focus by repetition on identifying sexual organs. Explicit sexual abuse information disrupts the normal sexual growth process; the child becomes more vulnerable to sexual maladjustment; children engage prematurely in sexual activity; children experience an increase in depression due to the consequences, both physical and emotional, of early sexual experiences in thought, word and/or deed.

c) Most alarming to parents who are attorneys and in law enforcement is the fact that 4 and 5 year olds are being taught to say to the sexual abuser: “I’m going to tell!” Even in rape-related literature involving adults, professionals never would suggest saying such a thing to a perpetrator. Most perpetrators would be more likely to seriously injure or kill an adult who threatened to tell, let alone what could/will happen to a small helpless child who threatened them with such exposure.

Preparation of teachers. Teachers are inadequately trained. They are told to “Customize your lessons”. “Each educator, agency or school district will approach the topic of personal safety differently. P. S. It’s My Body! is a flexible curriculum, allowing facilitators to choose the activities that best suit their needs…”

Teachers are told to “Use a variety of media.’ Videos, books, and visual aids are listed in each section as “Additional Resources” to be used with the children. Teachers are told to “create ‘teachable moments’…Everyday classroom experiences provide opportunities to teach and review…” The children are encouraged to “brainstorm” and are lead in “discussions.” Brainstorming inevitably leads to unacceptable discussions of sensitive and harmful subjects, and invasions of individual’s and family privacy. Teachers are told to add their own “What If’s” to the What If and Role Playing scenarios. They have been given carte blanche to introduce any situation they wish to the children. Children are constantly encouraged to visit with or talk to the teacher in private if they need to talk. Training of the facilitators/teachers in this program clearly does not fulfill the requirements of our Church as set forth in Education Guidance in Human Love – Outlines for Sex Education by the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education.

The training is focused on the teachers reporting parental abuse and neglect as revealed to them by the children. The difference between what the teachers are told abuse is, and what the children are taught abuse is, is dramatic. For example, to a child, emotional abuse, (which includes “verbal abuse”) is defined as:

• “Rejection: An adult doesn’t acknowledge the worth of a child.
• Put-Downs: a person tries to tear somebody down with words, instead of building him/her up.
• Ignoring: A person doesn’t pay attention to another person.
• Isolating: A child isn’t allowed to have friendships with others.”

Needless to say, there is no child who, after having been taught these things, will not feel they have been abused.

A lie. The authors know that children are not physically capable of preventing abuse. They are being prepared to report and be witnesses against their abusers. It is a false premise to believe that they can or should be responsible for themselves and their own safety. Tremendous numbers of false reports will be filed and Catholic families broken up, resulting in the next scandal in the Catholic Church.

The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child. This is included in the program to be taught to 10 and 11 year olds. By including this United Nations Declaration, humanist in nature, an organization which most often opposes issues going to the heart of our Catholic faith, the creators of this program show that their belief is the same as Hillary Clinton’s and as that of the majority of the creators of these programs: “It takes a village to raise a child”. Recent children’s summits discuss abortion as well as homosexuality as “human rights”. Their primary goal is to redefine the role of the traditional family and to promote the idea that children ages 10-18 have an inalienable right to be sexually active with same-sex partners and to abort their unwanted babies if they choose opposite sex partners. In rather innocuous language, this U.N. document turns the United Nations into a global parent, wipes out parental rights, and gives children nearly unlimited freedoms to determine their own destinies without parental interference. Articles 12-16 are diametrically opposed to the notions of parental rights expressed in Catholic papal encyclicals, such as “Humanae Vitae” and “Familiaris Consortio.”

Safe environment programs resulted from the US clergy sexual abuse crimes. Their imposition on our Catholic families was the brainchild of the insurance companies. They will not solve the problem. Our children were not the problem. They were mandated to take the focus off of the Bishops and criminal actions of priests. These programs do not eliminate the potential for civil lawsuits as some of the Bishops and insurance companies believe nor will they eliminate their responsibility for future clergy sexual abuse crimes. In fact, it is our opinion that they increase the likelihood of a new wave of lawsuits against the Bishops, the USCCB, the Dioceses, parishes, pastors and teachers. It is clear that the focus of these programs is not on the offenders, but on the children… who were the victims themselves and their families.

In summary, this program purports to be a plan for the prevention of sexual misconduct, the criminal acts of others. In fact, this program constitutes a form of child sexual abuse by presenting information that focuses children’ attention on their own private body parts and the private body parts of others, inappropriate touch, establishing the means for children to create unhealthy frightening mental images of being touched, of being forced and tricked to do things that “feel funny” by people that the children like, love or trust.
It causes the children to fear and distrust the very people in their lives who love and care for them. The children are converted into poor little “judges” who must make a decision with every single act of kindness or show of human affection that is given them and to question, is this “welcome” or “unwelcome.” This (and other like “safe environment” programs) is just another thinly-disguised sex education program which focuses on sexual perversion, which will desensitize and corrupt these innocent little souls. It demonstrates an “unwelcome” intrusion into the modesty and intimacy of children and is another form of child sexual abuse.

P. S. It’s My Body! constitutes both negligence and deviation. The philosophy permeating the program is at variance with the teachings of the Catholic Faith and cannot be reconciled with the mission entrusted to the Catholic schools and parishes.

What then is required? We cannot say it better than The National Federation of Catholic Physicians Guild said it:

Healthy sexuality cannot be taught in the classroom, it cannot be taught by strangers, it cannot be taught apart from the family. When parents fail in their responsibility to their children, it is they who must be educated for, for better or for worse it is they who will educate their children in these matters…The truth is that the school simply cannot compensate for the failures of the home…And it is the formation, not the information that counts. Education in Wholesome Chastity, Position Paper on Sex Education, National Federation of Catholic Physicians’ Guilds.

The best program is one that aids parents in the instruction of their own children. Each family knows best when and how to educate their children in these delicate areas – there is no ‘one size fits all’ program for young children. Each child is at his or her own distinctive moment in emotional and physical development – it is the right of parents to determine when and how to educate their children in these matters. But a parish program that aids parents is a good plan…(Mary Jo Anderson, Voices, Women for Faith & Family, Eastertide 2005.)

We do not believe that the bishops of the United States either by themselves or through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of Child and Youth Protection have the power and/or authority to override the constant teachings of our Church in this area.

The Holy Family Society

By: Sheila T. Parkhill
stparkhill@yahoo.com