Further Exchanges between Planned Parenthood and McDermott & Swain
The well-researched editorial from McDermott and Swain drew a letter to the editor from Planned Parenthood.
Note the very carefully chosen words in their response.
“The simple truth is that Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading women’s reproductive health care provider and advocate.”
Well, yes—and also the largest provider of abortions, which was one of McDermott and Swain’s points.
“Ninety-seven percent of our services are related to preventive care and include education, contraception, breast- and cervical cancer screenings and testing for sexually transmitted infections.”
Well, yes—and their abortions “bring in at least a third of its $345 million in clinic income” which was one of McDermott and Swain’s points.
“We fund these services through a combination of fees from patients, contributions from donors and a long-established government program dedicated to providing reproductive health services to low-income women.”
Well, yes—and “more than one-third of its income — $305 million — came from government subsidies” which would be us, the taxpayers.
I received via email McDermott and Swain’s response to Planned Parenthood’s letter:
Abortions and Planned Parenthood
Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, claims our Op-Ed on Planned Parenthood (“The abortion industry,” March 26) used “misleading attacks” (“Planned Parenthood’s record,” Letters, Friday). It appears, however, that her letter was chock-full of misleading assertions.
She suggests that abortion represents a tiny portion of Planned Parenthood’s work because “ninety-seven percent” of Planned Parenthood’s services are for things such as contraception and testing for STDs.
But while these other services are listed separately, in reality they are often given to the same clients, of whom one in 10 gets an abortion. Besides, abortions account for at least one third of Planned Parenthood’s $345 million clinic income.
Mrs. Richards also charges we are “dangerously wrong” when we say Planned Parenthood’s confidentiality principles conflict with the law.
Yet in our Op-Ed, we cited a researcher who called hundreds of Planned Parenthood centers around the country, saying she was a young teen impregnated by an overage man.
Nothing was said about abusive parents, yet in almost every case she was given step-by-step instructions on how to circumvent the law. It is no surprise that Planned Parenthood fights tooth-and-nail nearly every parental notification bill state legislatures propose.
Mrs. Richards also professes commitment to “racial equality.” But things are manifestly unequal when, according to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, there were 1.2 million abortions in 2005, and black women were 4.8 times as likely as non-Hispanic white women to have an abortion.
Hispanics were 2.7 times as likely. That means that 683,000 black babies were aborted, or 56 percent of the American total — despite the fact that blacks are only 13 percent of the U.S. population.
Finally, Mrs. Richards argues Planned Parenthood is a “safe, reliable” source of health care. Yet she curiously concedes (by failing to deny) our report that four of the six American women who died after taking the abortion pill RU-486 got the pill from a Planned Parenthood clinic — and that these affiliates may have skirted Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
Mrs. Richards’ letter should make us all ask why taxpayer money should keep funding one-third of Planned Parenthood’s nearly $1 billion budget.
Gerald McDermott
Professor of religion, Roanoke College
Salem, Va.Carol Swain
Professor of political science and law, Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tenn.
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The Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation donated money to Planned Parenthood in at least 22 states.
[1] Posted by Jill Woodliff on 4-29-2008 at 07:12 AM · [top]
Let’s think on that a little, Jill… Let’s see….
Pregnancy and breastfeeding reduces a woman’s risk of premenopausal breast cancer (the most aggressive time to have breast cancer) dramatically.
Planned Parenthood, by all it’s workings, reduces a woman’s opportunity for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Yeah, not exactly working at the same stated goal, are they? Why don’t people think before they throw money?
Bottom line: Abortions are not good for women’s health, mental, physical or spiritual. They may solve the short term “problem” of not wanting to grow up and parent or not being able to parent for some extenuating reason, but the long term problems created so outweigh the short term that it boggles my mind that they claim that this work is *for* women in any way. What it is is for profit and evil.
[2] Posted by Free Range Anglican on 4-29-2008 at 07:23 AM · [top]
I know this name ... I recognized it yesterday, but it didn’t register from where. He was embattled in an Episcopal parish in DioSWVa, one of the people up here was very troubled by it and called for a prayer gathering as a congregational meeting there. I sent a note of encouragement which a few months later was replied with a thanks and news he moved to this Lutheran college ... too many battles ... I long since forgotten that episode.
I deserve no credit, I believe I too have been sustained in difficult times in my life by prayers of people I’ve not met on this side of eternity either, some here on SF. I say thank you!
These stories add another bit of encouragement for me—where a faithful soldier is knocked down, but the Body cries out and the Father hears the cries and restored to battle the evils another day.
[3] Posted by Hosea6:6 on 4-29-2008 at 07:28 AM · [top]
The time has come when we must do the research necessary to determine how our donated dollars are being spent. Whether it is to fund the litigious actions of ECUSA or abortions at Planned Parenthood when we thought we were fighting cancer, we need to plan with care.
[4] Posted by JackieB on 4-29-2008 at 07:32 AM · [top]
Yes Hosea—note that little stone bridges abound everywhere. Once someone leaves one little stone bridges there are hundreds more crying out for another warrior. Hopefully the struggles of those of us within TEC will strengthen us and make us wise for the many other little stone bridges that await us.
[5] Posted by Sarah on 4-29-2008 at 07:37 AM · [top]
Jill Woodliff—thank you for that information. And Jackie I so agree with you.
[6] Posted by Sarah on 4-29-2008 at 07:37 AM · [top]
Sort of Sarah, as I recall he was in the Assoc. Rec.—two vestry when to +Powell, to then learn associates serve at the pleasure of the rector, so created a stink in the parish that this was the resolution. Tragically, our worthy opponents do not care about peace in the body and will do anything to win the day. I’m too distant to know much, but still that type does seem to be the worse type of situation for faithful clergy (to be the unpopular associate, at least the rector has a contract).
[7] Posted by Hosea6:6 on 4-29-2008 at 07:59 AM · [top]
Planned Parenthood logic is flawed in their rebuttal if that the majority their justification (1 in 4 teen & 1 in 2 African American teens with an STD) is that they do not provide any service that defends against the majority of them. Condoms will provide a barrier for ones in the blood but not skin to skin contact.
[8] Posted by Hosea6:6 on 4-29-2008 at 08:10 AM · [top]
Abortion clinic bombings, etc. have harmed the voice for pro-choice. I think we need to be as articulate as we can, document what we say, show numbers, show photos, be passionate advocates but - not in the way that earns us the “looney” badge. I wonder if the American Cancer Society also gives to Planned Parenthood? I don’t know what it takes to make our voices heard on this, to keep us from being simply dismissible as nuts - but I hope the way can be found.
[9] Posted by oscewicee on 4-29-2008 at 08:42 AM · [top]
Perhaps some readers of this thread may not be aware of the outstanding work of the pro-life group “Anglicans for Life,” formerly known as NOEL, the National Organization of Episcopalians for Life. Georgette Forney is doing an incredible job leading that vital ministry, headquartered in the Pittsburgh area (Sewickley). Their “I Regret My Abortion” campaign has had some wonderful results. They deserve our strong, enthusiastic support.
David Handy+
[10] Posted by New Reformation Advocate on 4-29-2008 at 09:11 AM · [top]
Pro-life prayers can be found here.
[11] Posted by Jill Woodliff on 4-29-2008 at 10:21 AM · [top]
I second David Handy’s mention of Anglicans for Life. Please check out their website, and e-mail or give them a call to see how you AND/OR your parish can get involved. (And if anyone is holding on to some petitions that need to be returned to Anglicans for Life, I believe their deadline is tomorrow?)
[12] Posted by Jill C. on 4-30-2008 at 10:37 AM · [top]
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