Abstinence-only sex education supporters are promising to fight Gov. Deval Patrick's veto Thursday of a $700,000 federal abstinence grant. The governor referred questions to John Auerbach, Department of Public Health commissioner.

Auerbach said the federal grant was restrictive and narrow. "It's not helpful to accept a grant that risks our ability to provide full and comprehensive sexual education," he said.

"We'll have to scale way back, which would be really tragic," said Rebecca Ray, director of Dorchester-based Healthy Futures, which teaches an abstinence-until-marriage program to 7,000 middle school students annually. "Teachers and students have been calling the governor saying, 'Please don't cut it.' It's the youth who are going to lose out if this program goes away."

About half of Healthy Futures' budget, $500,000, is based on the grant. The grant's remaining $200,000 is used by the state to evaluate the program.

The Republican caucus pledged to try and override the veto; nonetheless, in that event Patrick could still simply not apply for the grant.

Massachusetts Citizens for Life President Dr. Mildred Jefferson said her group would provide attorneys for anyone wanting to take the veto decision to the court.

It is foolish to believe abstinence-only education alone is safe or effective, said Angus McQuilken, spokesperson for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. "The only approach that has been proven to work is comprehensive sex education that includes abstinence and information about contraception and STD prevention."

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