Editors note: We sent manuscripts of Safer Sex: The New Morality to a wide variety of people concerned about the high rates of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, and abortion in the United States. Many respondents gave us permission to share their comments.

Michael McGee, Vice President for Education, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., New York, NY:
Lerman has done an admirable job of articulating the argument for a more rational and pragmatic approach to adolescent sexual behavior.

Henry Rosovsky, Geyser University Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University:
Evelyn Lerman has an uncanny ability to write about serious and sensitive subjects in a comprehensible, direct, and informative manner. Safer Sex will be of great use to parents, teachers, policy-makers - indeed, to all concerned with our future.

Lois Gatchell, Deacon, Episcopal Church, Tulsa, OK:
If we truly value the health and safety of our children, we must increasingly bring the volatile sexuality issues into our public forums. Lerman's thoughtful, fact-filled book offers incentive for a new level of dialogue among our health, education, social and religious agencies.

Susan N. Wilson, The Network for Family Life Education, NJ:
With Safer Sex: The New Morality, Evelyn Lerman has issued a thoughtful, intelligent manifesto for all of us which, if followed, could begin a new era of progress and change in our attitudes about adolescent sexuality and school-based sexuality education programs. For too many years, we have been adopting and implementing public policies, based more on ideology than fact, which do not benefit the majority of our young people. Lerman's book could make a huge difference for children, adolescents, and their families; her approach to these difficult, but crucially important subjects is sensible, clear-eyed and moderate. She deserves our gratitude for showing us a new path.

The Rev. Dr. Marilynn Huntington, Director, Council on Ministries, California Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church:
This is an honest, comprehensive look at an enormous problem in our society. It is carefully and thoroughly researched. The book clearly makes a case for a new look at sex education in America. The European model is unheard of here largely due to a fundamentalist mentality. Though undoubtedly true, I grieve it is the church that is the roadblock to a healthier attitude toward sex education.

Tom Cavanagh, School Principal, Brookline, MA:
A thoughtful meditation on one of the most controversial and volatile social issues of our time. With keen analytical intelligence and great personal empathy, Evelyn Lerman examines where we are now and how we got there culturally, politically, religiously, and socially. Her book is not just a diagnosis but is also a prescription. Safer Sex is rich with anecdote (and consequently very readable) but it is also supported by enough credible statistical data to satisfy even the most cynical social scientist. Safer Sex is a thoughtful and positive contribution by a reflective and esteemed educator.

Marilyn Sanders, School Age Parent Program Coordinator, Lewisville Independent School District, Lewisville, TX:
Our school district recently formed a community-based committee to formulate a K-12 sexuality education curriculum. Safer Sex: The New Morality is the perfect book for all committee members to read in order to have a real picture. It will surely assist in the decision-making that will be critical in developing and implementing a relevant program for our students. It addresses all the pertinent topics and provides current statistics. You have done the homework for us.

Carol Cassell, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA:
Safer Sex: The New Morality is a splendid, landmark book with the power of a revelation. It is a rich and informative account of why our nation has such appallingly high rates of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing compared to other western industrialized countries. Evelyn Lerman clearly reframes issues that have been endlessly debated for decades. She offers imaginative solutions not only rooted in research, but in common sense guided by a moral commitment to young people. This is essential reading for everyone in public policy, health and social services, and especially those who are sincerely interested in the prevention of adolescent pregnancy. I highly recommend it.

Rev. Anita Iceman, Orangethorpe United Methodist Church, Fullerton, CA:
It's a terrific book, a wonderful approach. I think a lot of people will respond positively.

Tom Klaus, Legacy Resource Group, Carlisle, IA:
Safer Sex: The New Morality is very readable and does a nice job of communicating some rather tough issues. . . a valuable book for practitioners, policy makers, parents, and anyone else concerned for the health and well-being of adolescents.

Linda Miklowitz, Attorney, Tallahassee, FL:
As a mother of two teenagers, a NOW chapter president, and a former journalist turned lawyer, I am impressed by Evelyn Lerman's clear writing and clear thinking about the explosive issue of sexual relations and young people. She offers not only a lucid description of the problem, but also good suggestions for helping young people.

Genie Wheeler, MSW, columnist, retired social worker:
The theme of this remarkable book is attack problems, not people. If Safer Sex could be required reading for school board members, congressmen, parents, and all who have strong feelings about these issues, teen pregnancy, AIDS, STIs, etc., would be considered health issues based on scientific principles rather than political and wildly controversial polarizing challenges. Ms. Lerman is not only scientifically oriented, but a philosopher and an ethicist. Her book is a wonderful blend of interviews, the human touch, hard scientific research, and advice and experience of the author. It's very much a needed book.

Catherine A. Sanderson, Department of Psychology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA:
The book is compelling on many levels very readable, nice blend of facts and statistics plus personal interviews and anecdotes. Provides a new and insightful perspective on many issues. I can see it being used successfully by parents and educators.

Rabbi Allan H. Schwartzman, Sarasota, FL:
Evelyn Lerman's Safer Sex: The New Morality is an eye-opener for all of us. Fathers and mothers (grandparents too), teens, teachers, clergy, and elected officials need to read and learn. All of us can do better; all of us must do better in this crucial and controversial area of living in America in the new century. Evelyn Lerman has made a profound and necessary contribution to our thinking. She has backed it by practical research. Now, it is for us to read and react.

Sharon Morrill, Health Educator, Newcastle, ME:
Evelyn Lerman's first book, Teen Moms: The Pain and the Promise, shifted my paradigm regarding teen pregnancy. She has taken an even more courageous step in Safer Sex, a valuable read for anyone who works with, lives with, cares for or educates teens.

Rev. Douglas W. Drown, Bingham, ME:
Safer Sex is well-documented, well-thought out, and incisive.

Joyce Delgado, Independent Study Teacher, Redding, CA:
What a novel concept this book conveys to teach our children about a natural bodily function, sexuality, with knowledge and compassion. One of the goals of Safer Sex: The New Morality is to have all adults and their agencies work together to educate our youth about abstinence, conception, and contraception all the methods that would prevent abortions, unwanted children, unplanned pregnancies and STIs. No matter what morals adults foster I don't care; what concerns me is the immorality, or dare I say stupidity, of losing our children to preventable at-risk behaviors.

Rev. George Pasley, United Presbyterian Church, Garnett, KS:
I like the pragmatism of Safer Sex: The New Morality. It does not leave out the option of abstinence, but recognizes its difficulty. I hope those of us who recognize abstinence as a moral issue can provide guidance that is not based on fear and shame, but on positive reasons. This book can help us.

Judy Glynn, RN, Chairperson, Rural Northeast Kansas AIDS Task Force:
When I was growing up, sex was not discussed or taught, only the rule, No sex. Many parents today recognize that is not enough and worry, not just about their children getting pregnant but dying from AIDS. Just saying "No sex" never was enough nor was it a healthy approach to embracing the gift of human sexuality. The facts in Evelyn Lerman's book speak for themselves. How do we break that cycle? It can only be through education and information, not to abandon our own values and morality but to expand them. Safer Sex: the New Morality recognizes that abstinence still is the best choice, but addresses the fact that many people, young and old, do not make that choice. This book does not abandon them to the consequences, but provides us not only with factual information, but the opportunity to hear from many different points of view. Then we have a challenge: to work together to create a comprehensive approach to the issues of human sexuality and the consequences of our choices. In today's world, both for the unborn and the living, it's a matter of life and death.

Jean Brunelli, PHN, La Palma, CA:
Safer Sex: The New Morality is a treatise on the shifting paradigm for the health, social service, and education systems of the country. It puts forth thoughtful discussion and concrete suggestions. Reading this book would give teachers an opportunity to pull back and reflect on what they're doing and how it fits into the scheme of things. It would be good for school board members and for people in all the helping services who have concerns about teen pregnancy.

Linda Berne, Professor, University of North Carolina, Charlotte:
Finally, someone with the guts to write a book that tells the whole truth!

Pam Kinnan, TeenAge Pregnancy/Parenting Facilitator, North Heights Alternative School, Amarillo, TX:
The Netherlands, Germany, and France have come to terms with the volatile, value-laden issues of preventing teen pregnancy, STIs, and abortion. Isn't it time that we as a nation resolve our differences of conflicting values regarding teenage sex, unmarried sex, contraception and abortion in order to benefit our young people? Safer Sex: The New Morality is a book that can show us the way. For those of us who advocate for youth, this book should be required reading.

Rev. Jim Brewster, United Methodist Church, Rowland Heights, CA:
I especially liked the theory behind the book. The author did an excellent job of giving the reader a sound understanding of why the A+ (teaching about abstinence and contraception) is so necessary. I have been an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church for many years, and have heard all of the rhetoric about abstinence only and feel it is entirely short-sighted and unrealistic. Teen pregnancy and STIs have soared while the religion, media, and politics have maintained their pious views that the only way is abstinence. I agree with the author that while abstinence is the preferable method for adolescents, it is mandatory that everyone must have the knowledge that comes with A+ to make a significant difference. I felt that the author made an outstanding contribution in this book to present a workable program which deals with the problems and avoids attacking people. The author makes an important contribution in the precise layout of moving toward the new morality. I applaud her dedication to the task.

Marie Mitchell, RN, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA . Co-author, Postponing Sexual Involvement:
Safer Sex provides a simple, logical and common sense approach to addressing the issue of Abstinence Only versus Abstinence Plus. The question was asked, "Are we dreaming to think these two points of view can come to terms with each other for the benefit of our young people?" Probably, but we must continue to be a voice crying in the wilderness and believe that dreams do come true. We can't afford not to.

Rev. Frank Hawkins, Kingsport, TN:
I like Evelyn Lerman's result-based approach to teenage sexuality challenges, i.e., abortion, pregnancy, STIs. Instead of continuing the war of words in a counterproductive debate, she calls us to a common sense logic of attacking the problems about which all of us agree. The goal of reducing these problems with the best proven methods is the author's recurring and carefully researched theme. It is must reading for all who want a healthier and more hopeful life for teenagers.

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