Champions of the book “It’s Perfectly Normal” have put a major wedge in traditional time-honored family values. Has love grown cold to the point of stripping America’s youth of their God-given dignity? Will Americans continue to tolerate such books on the library shelves in the children’s sections without warnings?

Why have libraries separated themselves from assisting youth to become heroic in the struggle for abstinence and chastity? I believe youth are deeply conflicted by those who scoff at intrinsic human values. Libraries have no natural authority to solely determine what is suitable for youth’s education.

I believe teen sex is killing our youth, and it will take a lifestyle change for all Americans to overcome the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases that can cause certain cancers in youth. Suicides are prevalent, the number of teens suffering depression is alarming, and cuttings are a crisis.

Youth underprepared for adulthood should send shock waves through our society.

Library standards fail miserably in collaborating with parents and American taxpayers. Framers of these policies need to realize their dereliction of responsibility and recognize their position is subordinate. Nobody loves children as deeply as their parents. Most parents accept they are not alone in the task of raising their children; they should be confident that those with access to their children will act with prudence and integrity.

Unfortunately, American Library Association policies do otherwise. Library policies do not affirm the first, irreplaceable and inalienable rights given to parents, but delegate themselves as an opposing authority, by failing to proceed with special care regarding the education of youth about human sexuality.

These library policies usurp the unique relationship between parents and children. Parents have the right to be the major influence in their children’s education; whatever is nonconforming with family traditions should be rooted out.

Abstinence is practical and needs to be taught, not mocked as in the book, “It’s Perfectly Normal.” This book is found not only in childrens’ sections of our local libraries, but is also incorporated into schools’ comprehensive sexual education curriculae. I implore parents to check school libraries and be more attentive to their children.

Library policies have a grave responsibility to honor immutable moral norms, and need to care about the suitable character formation of youth. Images of naked adults involved in physical intimacy only strips youth of innocence, gives too much information for its age targets, and interferes with the wholesome growth of children.

The imprinting of pornographic pictures spoils youth. It is certain they will, at some time, respond to it in a harmful manner.

Libraries exist to serve all American citizens. No criterion is established for library policies to compartmentalize Christian citizens into being prohibited from having influence in the public sphere.

The public expression of religion has atrophied because it is widely believed that “separation of church and state” exists somewhere in our Constitution or Bill of Rights. I believe it does not. Christians are protected by the First Amendment to profess their faith. I believe America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles with the intent of securing religious liberty. Many of the Founding Fathers’ writings and speeches, and many of our public buildings, have references to God. Our currency features the words, “In God We Trust.”

Christians are to act upon their belief in God, in being in service to others, and not to be silenced. Equality for all American citizens is promoted only with uninhibited freedom to practice one’s religion and to voice one’s choices and concerns. Religious values do not impose, but rather propose, the common dignity of all.

Now, how are we to proceed to get library policies enforced so each library with pornographic material must either remove it, or post a warning for the protection of our children?

Let’s be risk-takers, and not be silent for the sake of our youth.

JoAn Karkos lives in Lewiston. She has been charged with violating city ordinance for failing to return a copy of “It’s Perfectly Normal” she removed from Lewiston Public Library in August.

Karkos is due to appear in Lewiston District Court on Dec. 19.