6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 13, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: The Oakville Beaver is a division of IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Media Group Ltd. NEIL OLIVER Publisher DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA ANCHOR Circ. Manager Why the flip-flops? Does the accessibility of a vaccine that combats a sexuallytransmitted disease make young women more sexually active? What about when the same vaccine is no longer as accessible? Do its potential users automatically become role models for chastity? In both circumstances we believe the answer is -- of course -- no. That's why we're baffled by last week's decision by Halton Catholic school board trustees to discontinue Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination clinics on school property. By doing so, trustees effectively tossed a wrench into a Halton public health program that had seen a growing number of Grade 8 girls protected from HPV in Halton. Two strains of the HPV are responsible for about 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases. Last week's narrow vote not to continue the vaccination clinics on Catholic school property next fall saw four trustees reverse their position from less than nine months ago. Last September, Burlington trustee Joanne Matters disputed an argument that the vaccine contravened Catholic teachings. "I'm not sure a vaccine meant to prevent illness is a Catholic issue," she had said, adding: "At the end of the day this is the parents' decision." Last week, her tune had changed dramatically. "I believe this clearly sends a double message to our students. In the Catholic education system, we teach the teachings of the Catholic church, which are quite clear about sex before marriage, and on the other hand we offer a vaccine against a disease that can only be contracted through sexual activity." The vaccine is administered by regional health department staff and only with the consent of parents. Schools -- both public and Catholic -- are simply used as central sites to make accessibility easier for everyone involved. We suspect Matters was just as well-versed on Catholic teachings last September as she is today. So what changed her mind and those of three other trustees? Is it possible they didn't understand what the vaccine was for when they voted last fall? Also confusing is last week's remark by Burlington trustee Bob Van de Vrande, who equated support of the vaccination program with "making two square feet available in the bathrooms of the schools to hang condom vending machines." We simply don't agree. Both of these trustees seem less concerned about the genuine welfare of children and more interested in maintaining the image of the Catholic church. Milton trustee Reverend David Wilhelm is bang on when he suggests that trustee flip-flopping on this issue sends a message of indecision that isn't in the board's best interest. Once upon a time, trustees had been satisfied to leave the vaccination decision up to parents. Why not now? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Catholic board upholding beliefs Trustee Joanne Matters is correct in saying that a double message is being sent to the students in allowing the HPV vaccine in the separate school system. This is a Catholic education system upholding the beliefs of the Catholic church. To act in opposition to the Catholic church is to oppose the truth. The students are safe from the Human Papilloma Virus if they refrain from pre-marital sex. Given the present day culture, with its questionable morals does present a challenge to teenagers. This is where the teachers and parents can make a huge difference. Respect for one's own body, modesty and chastity were ideals of my youth. It is difficult to teach these ideals, but not impossible, and because something is difficult there is no reason for not doing it. Accolades to Joanne Matters, the other trustees and Lou Piovesan, Director of Education for having the wisdom and common sense to resist the pressure to give in on an important matter. Thanks Halton Catholic District School Board for doing the job that we elected you for. MAUREEN MURRAY Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206,Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981.Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.