Sexual health plan angers church

The strategy aims to tackle Scotland's sexual health problems

The Catholic Church in Scotland has criticised Scottish Executive proposals to tackle sexual health problems among young people.

Archbishop Mario Conti said the draft strategy placed too much emphasis on medical treatment and not enough on spiritual or social worries.

The strategy's publication was delayed when the Catholic Church refused to sign up to the expert report.

Archbishop Conti said it should not seek to "de-construct human nature".

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman thanked the archbishop for his comments.

The sexual health document took four years to prepare because of disagreements over the make-up of the expert panel.

It followed statistics suggesting that sexually transmitted infections are on the rise, with chlamydia rates among young Scots approaching epidemic levels.

Teenage pregnancies are higher in the UK than anywhere else in Europe, and Scotland has more than 9,000 every year.

There is a danger that the executive will address only the medical aspects of the problem Archbishop Mario Conti

The group's report, Enhancing Sexual Wellbeing in Scotland, said access to abortion services should be consistent across the country.

Its 100-plus recommendations included locating sexual health centres in schools, particularly in rural areas where there may be few other options.

But in a written submission to the executive, Archbishop Conti said the 92-page report missed crucial issues.

He said: "It is not the role of government to de-construct human nature nor, contrary to the advice of the sexual health strategy proposal, to address the problem other than in a holistic manner.

'Sorry statistic'

"There is a danger that on the basis of this document the executive will address only the medical aspects of the problem and ignore the much more important, underlying moral questions - questions of appropriate sexual behaviour.

"If so we will undoubtedly have a continued rise in the sorry statistic of sexual ill-health in the community."

He said plans to allow school nurses to offer contraceptive and abortion advice to pupils without informing their parents was "wrong in principle and geared to undermining the whole notion of family unity".

Our aim is that a strategy will emerge which will pave the way for improved sexual wellbeing for this and future generations Scottish Executive spokeswoman

Church concern over homosexuality being perceived as equal to heterosexual relationships and the absence of references to marriage in the report were also highlighted by the archbishop.

The executive spokeswoman said all contributions to the draft would be considered before a final version was produced.

"Our aim is that a strategy will emerge which will pave the way for improved sexual wellbeing for this and future generations founded on the pillars of self-respect, respect for others and strong, respectful relationships," she said.

"We have had almost 1,000 responses to the consultation and are still receiving more contributions.

"We will work to finalise the strategy as quickly as possible."