Recently a national study of the depiction of sex on prime-time television was released, and I was discouraged by its report. The study suggested the five major broadcast networks were far more likely to depict premarital sex or adultery than sexual relations in a marital relationship. As a member of the Center for Moral Clarity, a national Christian grass-roots organization, I'm concerned about what this teaches our children about the nature of sex and marriage.

The report, for example, shows that networks are more than twice as likely to show characters cheating on a spouse than engaging in sex in the context of marriage. It's even worse during the "family hour," when young children are more likely to be watching.

With the fall television season approaching, I'll be monitoring what I watch more closely, and I hope you'll do the same. Please consider your audience when deciding whether to air your network's shows, and whether they should receive alternative programming instead of some of the poor examples it offers as entertainment.

Donna Kienzle

Potsdam