How Planned Parenthood Uses Religion to Push Its Agenda

From http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/Commentary/archive/200802/COM20080212b.html



How Planned Parenthood Uses Religion to Push Its Agenda
By Michaeleen Sedlak
CNSNews.com Commentary
February 12, 2008

On January 22, Planned Parenthood in Schenectady, N.Y., had a member of the clergy hold a service to bless its new abortion facility in that city. It sounds incredible, but it wasn''t an isolated incident. It is the result of a specific strategy by Planned Parenthood.

This strategy was manifested at Planned Parenthood''s 2007 Annual Conference and Health Care Institute in California. During the four-day event, the catch phrase buzzing around the hallways was, "Planned Parenthood: Pro-choice, Pro-woman, Pro-faith."

To emphasize this theme, there were several program events, including a "Clergy Interfaith Prayer Breakfast," where attending clergy felt the need to support "reproductive justice" as part of their so-called social justice ministry. In addition, there was a "Come Meet the Clergy" forum to meet and speak with the PPFA Clergy Advisory Board. There was even a workshop about organizing pro-abortion clergy in communities.

And why not? Clergy can have great stage presence, most people have "faith" in the clergy and the clergy wouldn''t lie to us - right? Well, that depends on who trains them, who they are working for and who pays them. Even more importantly, it depends on what image they are trying to present. To that effect, there was a workshop entitled "Image Campaigns."

This all came about because Planned Parenthood has suffered a serious public image problem over the last few years. In other words, more and more people are becoming educated about Planned Parenthood''s real philosophies and greedy goals.

For example, in Aurora, Illinois, Planned Parenthood hid its identity by using another company''s name to smuggle in its abortion center and to this day the Aurora citizens continue with a great resistance to Planned Parenthood. In Portland, Oregon and a Denver, Colorado suburb -- Planned Parenthood tried the same tactics.

Let''s face it; deceit and fraud are no way to conduct business in a local community. Especially, when you''re asking community people to be your clients. Planned Parenthood has become a name and an organization not welcome -- for so many reasons.

What does this have to do with Planned Parenthood being pro-faith? Image, of course. What better way can Planned Parenthood improve its image than by being associated with clergy? Religious organizations, churches and clergy have deep roots already set in their communities and a strong bond of faith with their congregations. Thus, with its own, self-instructed, Clergy Advisory Board and staff, Planned Parenthood attaches itself and its agenda to these institutions and reels them in hook, line and sinker.

Planned Parenthood holds meetings in church basements. Planned Parenthood has local clergy and religious organizations backing its programs. Since people trust clergy, Planned Parenthood gains clientele and profits from the sale of their products such as contraception and its backup, abortion. With clergy support, Planned Parenthood has better access to the schools, pushing sex-education programs to get future clients and sales. The support of clergy also helps convince elected officials to give Planned Parenthood our taxpayer money.

However, in its attempt to improve public image, Planned Parenthood''s pro-faith message may have opened a Pandora''s box that will backfire. For years, Planned Parenthood has stuck to its rhetoric that any opposition it confronts is the work of religious fanatics. Now, it wants us to believe it is "pro-faith."

To be "of faith" means to believe in a set of doctrines. Planned Parenthood has its own set of doctrines and beliefs and those doctrines are expressed in the Humanist Manifesto II. The humanist doctrines therein state that God is not important, no deity will save us, there is no heaven or hell and we are responsible for ourselves. How sad, bleak and dismal.

However, for years Planned Parenthood leaders have received awards for spreading this doctrine. This can be seen in the humanist lifestyle it condones, in its ethics, the humanistic views on the meaning of life, civil liberties and democracy, the so-called rights to suicide, abortion, divorce, euthanasia, sexual freedom and the building of a world community. These beliefs fit right into its pocketbook and this lifestyle presents the means to obtain more money.

But wait a minute, who are Planned Parenthood clergy praying to if not to God?

This brings us back to the Schenectady blessing service. The Times Union of Albany, New York recently reported, in a ceremony called "On Sacred Ground," Rev. Larry Phillips of Schenectady''s Emmanuel-Friedens Church declared a new Planned Parenthood abortion facility "sacred and holy... where women''s voices and stories are welcomed, valued and affirmed; sacred ground where women are treated with dignity, supported in their role as moral decision-makers... sacred ground where the violent voices of hatred and oppression are quelled."

Through Rev. Larry Phillips'' "blessing," the new Planned Parenthood in Schenectady was not declared "sacred and holy" by God. Instead, on that ground, the hard cold voices of Planned Parenthood staff will echo with indifference and apathy, as they take in the money of vulnerable women and girls. On that ground preborn babies will be heard crying and gasping for air and life. On that ground mothers will be hurt physically and mentally - perhaps even die.

Indeed, this so-called "sacred ground" will churn and burn for ages to come in testimony to the babies and women who trusted their lives to the lies and deceit of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood wants you for all you are worth - body and soul. Like all Planned Parenthood business locations, the new one in Schenectady was dedicated to a faith or cult without God - it was dedicated to the hexes and evils of Satan.

It is clear that Planned Parenthood will continue to push its "pro-faith" image to improve its business and hide its true intentions. Whether it is the slaughter of our babies or stealing of the innocence of our children, Planned Parenthood is a dangerous organization and, under the guidance of God, true people of faith will bring this Goliath down.


(Michaeleen Sedlak is the events coordinator of American Life League''s Stop Planned Parenthood project. See more about STOPP at www.ALL.org.)