The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday, claiming the federal government improperly used funds to promote religion in a nationwide abstinence program.

"The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says the government cannot fund religion in general and certainly not one religion in particular, but that's exactly what [happened] when over $1 million [was given] to the Silver Ring Thing, which uses taxpayer dollars to promote Christianity," said Caroline Mala Corbin, an attorney for the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project. "This is an unconstitutional misuse of public funds."

The Silver Ring Thing is a faith-based abstinence program headquartered in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, that educates adolescents on sexual behavior and advises them to pledge purity until marriage. It is the fastest-growing international teen-abstinence group and holds presentations in dozens of cities.

Citing SRT grant applications, Corbin said federal dollars are used to support the program's high-tech presentations, in which SRT members quote the Bible and testify about accepting Jesus Christ. The event ends with students promising "before God Almighty to abstain from sexual behavior that is inconsistent with biblical standards." SRT rings are inscribed with a Bible verse: "God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honor." To date, more than 30,000 young adults have taken part in the program.

"SRT is aware of the proper designation of the federal funds received and asserts that these monies have been properly directed at all times," founder/CEO Denny Pattyn said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said no comment could be given during the pending litigation.

Pattyn said he's received an outpouring of support from SRT members since the suit was announced. A teenager named Katie donated 80 cents toward SRT's legal fees and wrote, "Maybe some people can't tell, but in a few years, when my generation steps up to the altar, they will see the commitment to abstain has worked and encouraged a new outlook on the value of love instead of sex."

Since 1997, the government has spent more than $700 million on abstinence programs. But critics, including the ACLU, say there is no conclusive evidence that the programs reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancies or STDs.

"The ACLU supports comprehensive sexuality-education programs that include information about both abstinence and contraception," Corbin said. "Studies show these programs are effective in reducing sexual risk-taking and pregnancy among teens."

A 2004 National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy poll showed that 97 percent of young teens want a strong message about not having sex until they are out of high school, and 81 percent said they wish they were getting more information about abstinence and contraception.