Biden awards Medal of Freedom to former head of Planned
Parenthood, sparking outrage over abortion legacy
Catholic Vote ^ | November 21, 2024 | Louis Knuffke
Posted on 11/23/2024, 2:33:03 AM by Morgana
Biden this week awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from pro-life advocates.
After a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, November 20, Biden commended Richards, who was the organization’s president from 2006 to 2018, as a leader of “absolute courage.” He stated in a post on X that she “fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are — a nation of freedom.”
In the post on X, he also said, “Through her work to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women’s reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote, she has carved an inspiring legacy.”
Pro-life advocates strongly rejected this characterization. Lila Rose, president of Live Action, responded on X, writing, “Cecile Richards presided over the abortions of 3.9 million babies as president of Planned Parenthood. She belongs in jail. Not in the White House receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.” Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America reported in a fact sheet that analyzed previous Planned Parenthood annual reports that the organization performed more than 1.6 million abortions from 2012 to 2017 alone.
Richards followed Gloria Feldt as president of Planned Parenthood and quickly became known for transforming the organization into what she described as the “largest kick-butt political organization.” However, during her tenure, Planned Parenthood’s non-abortion health care services declined, while abortions and taxpayer funding surged, according to LiveAction.
LiveAction reported that from 2006 to 2018, Planned Parenthood’s annual government funding increased by 67%, from $336.7 million to $563.8 million. During the same period, the number of abortions performed by the organization rose by nearly 15%, climbing from 289,750 annually to 332,757 annually.
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