Sex education

Recently Rev. Haffner appeared on the O'Reilly Factor to discuss the importance of introducing elementary school children to sexuality education. O'Reilly criticized Haffner's use of the word "uterus" in explaining pregnancy and birth to kindergarteners, claiming that it was too explicit for children that age. Haffner responded that using correct terminology and providing accurate information are vital in establishing open communication with children. "Sexuality education is a religious issue," Rev. Haffner stated. "We have a commitment to helping young people develop a moral conscience, including an ability to make healthy decisions. We have a religious commitment to truth telling, which means that people should have full and accurate information, not biased and censored."

Rev. Haffner was quoted recently by The New York Times regarding the decision Maryland schools made to offer lessons on homosexuality as part of its sexuality education program. Offering her support of this decision, Haffner refuted the argument that offering these lessons might influence students' behavior rather than simply offer neutral information. She stated, "It's a myth that our schools don't teach values about lots of things. We don't put communism, socialism and capitalism on an equal footing in our classes on government."

Creating sexually healthy communities

In collaboration with the New England Adolescent Research Institute (NEARI), Haffner developed a course entitled Balancing Acts that is designed to train ministers and other religious professionals in how to keep children and youth safe from sexual abuse. Rev. Haffner works frequently with congregations who are struggling with including sex offenders in their congregations, and in this program, she addresses the concerns these faith communities face when discerning how to discern appropriate involvement for these individuals. It suggests the formation of a "limited access agreement" to determine what activities the individual may participate in and suggests rules and guidelines to prevent the occurrence of future abuse. "Every place of worship needs a safe-congregation policy," Haffner said.

Books

• What Every 21-st Century Parent Needs to Know: Facing Today's Challenges with Wisdom and Heart, Newmarket Press, 2008.
• A Time to Heal: Protecting Children and Ministering to Sex Offenders, LifeQuest, 2005.
• Beyond the Big Talk, Newmarket Press, 2001, paperback, 2002.
• Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality with Jerry Greenberg and Clint Breuss, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2000, 2002, 2004.
• From Diapers to Dating: A Parents' Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children, Newmarket Press, 1999, paperback 2000, revised update 2004.
• What I've Learned About Sex with Pepper Schwartz, Perigee Books, 1998.

Monographs

• Reaching Out to Faith Communities, Connecticut: Religious Institute, 2006.
• Balancing Acts: Keeping Children Safe in Congregations, Boston: Unitarian Universalist Association, 2005.
• A Time to Build: Creating Sexually Healthy Faith Communities, Connecticut: Religious Institute, 2002.
• A Time to Speak: Faith Communities and Sexuality Education, New York: SIECUS, 1998.