Youth Celebrate Sexual Purity

Special Report - February 13, 2008
Thousands of students across the United States and around the world will mark this Valentine’s Day by renewing their commitment to sexual purity until marriage during the fifth annual “Day of Purity.” Created by the Liberty Counsel, the annual event for public, private and home school students from middle school through college is described by organizers as “one day in the year that is set aside for all of those students across America who believe that youth should strive to remain sexually pure.” It is purposefully held on February 14 every year to “encourage purity in dating relationships” on Valentine’s Day.

As part of the “Day of Purity,” many students carry with them a credit card sized “Purity Pledge Card” that states: “I hereby choose to save sex until I am in a committed marriage relationship. Knowing this is the best choice for my health, emotions, and spirituality, I voluntarily choose to abstain from sexual activity until my wedding night. Once I am married, I will remain true to my spouse. Putting aside whatever past I may have, I make this commitment today to purity and to setting high standards for my life.” Some other ways that students mark the event include: wearing “Day of Purity” t-shirts (or plain white t-shirts) to school, passing out flyers during non-class time that highlight the dangers of sexual activity outside of marriage, holding father-daughter banquets, and planning abstinence rallies. Students are also encouraged to publicize the “Day of Purity” in their local churches and communities, as well as through the media.

According to Rena Lindevaldsen, international coordinator for the “Day of Purity,” the event is intended to combat the daily pressures teenagers face to become sexually active. “The consequences of sexual promiscuity among youth are devastating. More than 3 million American teens are infected each year with sexually transmitted diseases. The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate of developed countries, and teens account for 20 percent of the 1.3 million abortions performed each year in this nation,” Lindevaldsen says in a press release. “These problems result directly from the failure of our society to offer clear moral guidance. We encourage students to choose sexual purity to drown out the persistent message of sexual promiscuity promoted through television, the Internet, movies, video games and even in some school sex education programs . . .”

The “Day of Purity” web site lists the schools in North Carolina where students have registered their participation in the event.

Copyright © 2008. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.