I’ve known for a long time that people on the religious right Have Issues. But this, I have to admit, takes the cake. Well, it’s at least part of the cake.

You may, or may not know, that there is a new vaccine against cervical cancer, which appears to be close to 100% effective in preventing HPV infection (that’s the virus that causes cervical cancer.) There are about 10,000 new cases of cervical cancer each year, and about 3,500 women die from it each year. Cervical cancer affects African American and Latina women disproportionately.

Some conservatives think that it’s not a good idea to include a cervical cancer vaccine in the mandatory vaccines kids (in this case, girls) get because "it could send a subtle message condoning sexual activity before marriage." Of course these are the people who suggest abstinence-only sex-ed programs that don’t work.

I’m really trying to be nice here. There are all sorts of nasty names I’d like to call these people, but I will refrain myself, and reflect my better nature. The vaccine is still at least a year away, and these conservative groups are already starting to work on this. Don’t they have anything better to do with their time than help kill women? Oh, that’s right, they pray for justices on the Supreme Court to die or get sick, suggest that Katrina was sent by God because of the evil in New Orleans, and suggest we assassinate people. This is right up their alley, I’m sure they can squeeze some time in for it.