Editing Abstinence pledge (section)

==History==
The [[temperance movement]] arose in the 18th century and spread throughout Christians of the [[Methodist]], [[Presbyterian]], [[Quaker]], and [[Roman Catholic]] denominations, among others.<ref name="IT1998"/> The [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]] (WCTU), has encouraged people in their communities to sign abstinence pledges with the undersigned promising to not use alcohol or other drugs; the following is an example of wording that may appear on such abstinence pledge cards: "I hereby promise, by the help of God, to abstain from the use of all intoxicating liquors, including wine, beer, and cider as a beverage."<ref name="Smith2019">{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Barbara |title=The Famous Five: Canada's Crusaders for Women's Rights |date=14 May 2019 |publisher=Heritage House Publishing |isbn=978-1-77203-234-5 |page=14 |language=en}}</ref> Taking the abstinence pledge enrolls those signing the cards as members in the [[List of Temperance organizations|temperance organization]] that is distributing them, such as the [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], [[Independent Order of Rechabites]] and [[International Organisation of Good Templars]], among others.<ref name="VHS1984">{{cite book |title=Vermont History, Volumes 52-53 |date=1984 |publisher=Vermont Historical Society |page=155 |language=English |quote=Woman's Christian Temperance Union PLEDGE Conditions of membership: Signing total abstinence pledge and paying annual dues of $ 1.00. "I hereby solemnly promise, God helping me, to abstain from all distilled, fermented, and malt...}}</ref> The [[League of the Cross|Catholic Total Abstinence League of the Cross]], founded by [[Cardinal Henry Manning]] in 1873, had the following pledge: "I promise to you, reverend father, and to the League of the Holy Cross, by the help of God's grace, to abstain from all intoxicating drinks."<ref name="Hanson2016">{{cite web |last1=Hanson |first1=David J. |title=Catholic Total Abstinence League of the Cross |url=https://www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org/catholic-total-abstinence-league-of-the-cross |publisher=Alcohol Problems and Solutions |access-date=23 March 2021 |language=English |date=15 June 2016}}</ref> A similar organisation, the [[Pioneer Total Abstinence Association]], continues distributing abstinence pledges today and [[Pope Pius X]] instated an [[plenary indulgence]] of 100 days for those promoting it.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Irish Ecclesiastical Record |date=1913 |publisher=Browne and Nolan |page=636 |language=English}}</ref> In [[Ireland]], it is common for school children to take the pledge of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association after which they receive a [[lapel pin]].<ref name="White2020">{{cite book |last1=White |first1=Robert W. |title=Ruairí Ó Brádaigh: The Life and Politics of an Irish Revolutionary |date=5 May 2020 |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |isbn=978-0-253-04830-1 |page=33 |language=English}}</ref> 
[[File:Signing the pledge LCCN2003680827.jpg|right|thumb|Signing a teetotal pledge, USA, 1846]]
The first program encouraging individuals to sign a pledge encouraging abstinence from sexual intercourse until marriage is [[True Love Waits (organization)|True Love Waits]], started in 1993 by the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], which now claims over 2.5 million pledgers worldwide in dozens of countries.<ref>Anne Bolin, Patricia Whelehan, ''Human Sexuality: Biological, Psychological, and Cultural Perspectives'', Routledge, UK, 2009, p. 248</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=20143|title=Baptist Press - True Love Waits launches community-wide initiative - News with a Christian Perspective<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=29 May 2017|archive-date=5 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605235127/http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=20143|url-status=dead}}</ref> A torrent of abstinence pledge programs encouraging people to save sexual intercourse for marriage followed; one such program is the [[Silver Ring Thing]] (SRT), which started in 1995 has been featured in hundreds of media reports worldwide. In 2005, the [[American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts]] sued the [[U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]] because it believed SRT used tax dollars to promote Christianity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/reproductiverights/sexed/12603lgl20050516.html|title=ACLU of Massachusetts v. Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref> SRT presented a two-part program, the first part about abstinence; the second about how the Christian faith fits into an abstinence commitment. The ACLU claimed federal funding given to this program violated their interpretation of [[Separation of church and state in the United States|separation of church and state]].

On August 22, 2005, the department suspended SRT's $75,000 federal grant until it submitted a "corrective action plan."<ref name="srtsettlement">{{cite web
| title           = settlement agreement
| author          = American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts
| url             = https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/srtsettlementagreement.pdf
| website         = American Civil Liberties Union
| pages           = 2, 6, 7
| date            = 2017-08-01 <!-- 2017-08-01 according to Last-Modified: HTTP header -->
| access-date     = 2019-05-03
| df              = mdy-all
}}</ref>
In 2006, a corrective action plan was accepted by the department, the lawsuit was dismissed and SRT received its federal funding.

Abstinence pledge programs take a variety of stances on the role of religion in the pledge:  some use religion to motivate the pledge, putting Biblical quotes on the cards, while others use statistics and arguments to motivate the pledge. Advocacy of virginity pledges is often coupled with support for [[abstinence-only sex education]] in public schools. Advocates argue that any other type of sexual education would promote sex outside of [[marriage]], which they hold to be immoral and risky.<ref name="Donaldson2008">{{cite web |last1=Donaldson |first1=Susan James |title=Virginity Pledges Can Work for Some |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/ReproductiveHealth/story?id=5906523&page=1 |publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company]] |access-date=23 March 2021 |language=English |date=29 September 2008}}</ref>