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Rounds urged Planned Parenthood Web link cut
By Pioneer and AP staff
07/12/2004
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PIERRE - Gov. Mike Rounds says he urged the removal of an Internet link to a Planned Parenthood site from a State Library Web site for teenagers after he was contacted by Robert Carlson, bishop of the Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese.

The State Library board voted 5-1 on Friday to remove the link for two months while it conducts a review. The board earlier had voted to keep the Planned Parenthood Teenwire site link. The link was removed Monday morning.

''We were asked to put it on hold,'' said Richard Van Beek of Aberdeen, vice chairman of the governor-appointed library board. ''We'll study it and see if it's a problem. We put it on the shelf until we get through that study.''

Rounds said he is concerned the Planned Parenthood Federation is a political organization that hires lobbyists.

On Sunday, Rounds said a letter from Carlson alerted him to the site.

Rounds, who is Catholic, said he thinks the link should be removed permanently. A state Web site shouldn't have links to sites that promote particular positions, he said.

''I'm not sure the state should be in the business of promoting a particular cause,'' the governor said. ''A clear pro-choice message comes through strongly.''

Most people would consider removing the Web link as censorship, said Kate Looby, Planned Parenthood's state director.

''It makes me scared when the bishop is running the state,'' Looby told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

''I think the public ought to be outraged,'' she said. ''I think the people of South Dakota ought to recognize how dangerous this is.''

Rounds said it's not censorship because the Planned Parenthood site is still available to Internet users without going through the library home page.

In a May 12 letter, Carlson wrote, ''I trust that you will agree that the information found on these links are not only objectionable, but in many instances false. Undeniably, it is sending a harmful message to our valued youth. I find it extremely troubling that the State of South Dakota would encourage our young women and men to turn to Planned Parenthood for any guidance, whether it be sex education or the intrinsic evil of abortion.''

Carlson couldn't be reached for comment Sunday.

The site contains information about relationships, health, biological changes, sex, pregnancy and birth control. It includes a column that answers teenagers' questions about sex, abortion, emotions and homosexuality.

Libraries should give people access to all types of sites and allow for difference of opinions, Looby said. She said the library site includes a link to a Christianity Today site that promotes abstinence.

''I support having that link, too. I think that's great, allowing people to make their own decisions,'' Looby said. ''When you start restricting information, it's a very slippery slope.''

A Rounds staff member told the library board that state policy prevents a link to an organization that is politically active.

The written policy found on the State's home page says, "This Web site may contain links to external websites or systems not owned or controlled by the State. In its sole discretion, the state will determine whether the external website is consistent with the purpose of the state website on a case by case basis. The links to the sites containing the following types of content are not considered appropriate (this list is a nonexclusive list):

* Sites that exhibit hate, bias, discrimination, pornography, libelous or otherwise defamatory content;

* Affiliation or advocacy of a political party, organization, or candidate running for office;

* Content not suitable for readers or viewers of all ages;

* Content that infringes on any trademark, copyright, or patent rights of another;

* Content that a reasonable citizen may not consider to maintain the dignity and decorum appropriate for government.

"Links to external websites and pages may be removed or replaced at the sole discretion of the State, at any time without notice."

Rounds' spokesman Mark Johnston said the policy being used by the library board is a little different but he did not have a copy of that document Monday morning.

The state Web site about dating and relationships for teenagers was started last fall. The response from teachers and librarians was ''almost universally positive then,'' said Eric Abrahamson of Rapid City, the only board member to vote against removing the link.

The board will look at alternate Web sites if the removal is permanent.

Bishop Carlson said he believes the state must adopt policies favoring chastity and abstinence over ''the 'safe sex' message now prevalent in our society.''

''This issue is much too important to leave to a 'balanced' approach. We need to provide solid leadership and take strong positions when teaching our youth about human sexuality,'' he wrote.

Carlson urged Rounds to make sure any organization that supports sexual activity outside of marriage be kept from mention on the Web site.

The federal government and agencies in a dozen other states include the Planned Parenthood link on their Web sites, Abrahamson said.

Johnston said in an interview with the Black Hills Pioneer Monday that the removal is a matter of following policy. "We asked the library board to drop the Planned Parenthood link because the site directs or asks people to sign up for their political activities," he said. "We don't have links to the Democrats or Republicans or anyone like that. Only the Secretary of State's Web site has that information."


©The Black Hills Pioneer, Newspapers, South Dakota, SD 2010

Reader Comments
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Added: Tuesday July 13, 2004 at 02:28 PM EST
Wow. On one hand, we have a national president who's taking his orders from the Protestant right wing, and on the other hand we have a governor who's getting his directives from a Catholic right wing bishop. Let's be the first to change the classification of South Dakota from a state to a theocracy. And forget the Pope--Long Live Their Holinesses, Bush and Brown!
Bill Fuller

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