Wednesday STOPP Report: November 26, 2008
Musician plays for PP fundraiser
Regina Spektor, an up and coming musician, has decided to play for Planned Parenthood’s third annual Roe on the Rocks benefit in Manhattan (New York City). Spektor is making a big move in the wrong direction by promoting PP. Why does a musician or anyone else in the entertainment industry support PP and abortion when it results in murdering a quarter of their potential customers?
We are not surprised that PP is celebrating Roe v. Wade, nor that PP is referring to a decision to decriminalize abortion as a style of serving a drink. Please contact Regina Spektor and let her know that you will no longer buy or listen to her music because of her support for PP.
PP promotes adoption? Don’t buy it!
Planned Parenthood of Indiana is trying to convince the public that it strongly supports adoption. It has even gone so far as to claim that it believes that adoption is “a viable option and there are many choices.” Why are we skeptical about PP’s latest publicity stunt? Simply put, PP is not in the adoption business; it is in the abortion and contraception business. PP not only has nothing to gain from adoption, it has a lot to lose. This is merely a way for PP to try to divert attention from its abortion business. According to PP’s latest annual report, in 2006 it committed 289,750 abortions and referred 2,410 women for adoption. That is 120 abortions for every one adoption referral. It is clear where PP's counseling leads women.
We ask our readers to help spread the message of what PP truly is and that it does not genuinely support adoption. It is thus appropriate to end this story with a hypocritical statement made by Betty Cockrum, PPIN’s president and CEO, “A woman who chooses adoption will be responsible for providing a lifetime of happiness to a family.” PP, the nations' largest abortion chain, looks at a child as being a source of happiness? Talk about being two-faced!
Texas bill requires ultrasound before abortion
Planned Parenthood is fighting a bill in Texas that calls for all women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound, listen to the baby’s heartbeat and see images of her baby at least two hours before the scheduled murder of her innocent child. PP realizes that once a woman sees her child for what he or she truly is – a human being – it will probably be more difficult for her to abort her preborn baby. However, PP is smarter than to admit that it doesn’t want to lose profits. So, why is PP opposed? Here is what PP “claims” to dislike about the proposed legislation: “None of this sounds horrible, but when you look more at the big picture, it’s really telling women, you’re really maybe not smart enough to make this decision on your own.”
We have received credible reports that PP will sometimes ensure that its sonograms are out of focus so that the women see blurred images. It simply does not want them to face the truth. We know that PP is fighting this bill to avoid losing customers and so that it can continue committing abortions, which account for one-third of its total clinic income. Please pray that this small step toward saving a child’s life is passed in Texas!
TAW is fast approaching
Rock for Life, American Life League's youth outreach project, is now accepting registrations for the 2009 Training and Activism Week and Personhood Conference, which is RFL's ninth annual Training and Activism event. This year’s event takes place January 21-23, 2009 at the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel in Washington, D.C.
The event will include marching with hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers at the 36th annual March for Life, meeting and networking with young pro-lifers from all over the country, receiving training from experienced, successful veteran pro-life activists, hitting the streets of D.C. for activism, and much more.
This year, ALL will also host a Personhood Conference, featuring speakers such as Mrs. Judie Brown, president and cofounder of ALL; Lila Rose, cofounder of Live Action Films and editor of the Advocate, UCLA’s pro-life student magazine; Kristi Burton, founder of Colorado for Equal Rights; and David Bereit, national campaign director for 40 Days for Life.
The cost is only $50 per person per night. Registration forms and more information can be found at www.rockforlife.org/taw.
STOPP in Michigan
On October 30, Marie Hahnenberg, a researcher for ALL and member of the STOPP department, was the keynote speaker at Cheboygan Right to Life's dinner in Cheboygan, Michigan. About 300 attended and were able to hear Marie explain how the contraceptive mentality has contributed to many serious problems we face today and Planned Parenthood's role in promoting it.
Marie described PP's effort to push sex onto our young people, with the intention of acquiring more customers and killing more children. She encouraged her audience to help defund PP by signing the Stop Planned Parenthood Tax Funding petition, participate in regularly scheduled protests outside of PP facilities and investigate whether PP is present in their public schools. Marie also encouraged young audience members to choose a life of chastity. She said, “It involves things like what you wear, how you act, what you say – truly living it out – waiting [until marriage] to have sex, for your future spouse. It’s a beautiful thing, and it is possible. I can do it, and many, many, many other young people are living the life of chastity right now.”
If you are interested in having Marie or any of our other pro-life experts speak in your area, please e-mail Marie at mhanenberg@all.org or STOPP at stopp@all.org
Stop FOCA and PFA
For the last two weeks, we have brought you information on the Freedom of Choice Act and the Prevention First Act. Both of these Planned Parnthood-inspired pieces of legislation need to be stopped. American Life League has created a petition allowing you to register your displeasure with these bills and let your elected officials know how you feel. Please go to www.stopp.org/agenda and sign the petition. In addition, please ask all of your friends and everyone on your e-mail lists to sign it. We must be ready to combat FOCA and PFA on January 1, 2009. A large number of signatures on this petition will help us do that.
Georgia PP affiliate loses over $400,000
Planned Parenthood in Fulton County, Georgia lost $420,000 in state funding this year. This is the second story we have brought to you recently concerning PP's loss of funding in various parts of the country. Moreover, it is not the only story of its kind in this week’s Wednesday STOPP Report. When asked why PP lost funding, Commissioner Steve Mercier responded, “It’s not political. They don’t need the money.”
Mr. Mercier could not be more correct. PP does not and never has needed taxpayer funds to stay afloat. The nation’s largest abortion business is currently holding $1 billion in assets. Please continue to spread the message that we must keep PP from receiving any more of the taxpayers’ money. Click here to sign the petition to defund PP and send it on to all your closest family and friends. Thank God for our victory against PP in Georgia.
Our plan works in Corpus Christi
On Tuesday, November 18, we received a call from Therese of South Texas STOPP (P.O. Box 8637, Corpus Christi, TX 78468). Therese and her group of dedicated pro-lifers had just returned from a Corpus Christi City Council meeting, at which the council voted unanimously to deny Planned Parenthood $30,000 in taxpayer money. Therese told us, “I just had to call and let you know your plan works! We did everything just the way you said and we won! Thank you.”
On February 15, ALL vice president Jim Sedlak, and ALL’s Rock for Life director, Erik Whittington, traveled to Corpus Christi to give pro-life talks and attend a daylong Rock for Life event sponsored by the local RFL chapter. During that visit, the pro-lifers asked how they could stop taxpayer funding of PP. We described, in detail, our plan to defeat public funding of PP. It is section three of our overall Plan for Defeating Planned Parenthood, which can be found at http://www.stopp.org/plan.htm#three. The plan provides a 31-step process, which begins with explaining how to obtain information on PP’s funding in your local area and then describes how to activate the community to get funding taken away from PP.
Of course, the real thanks for this victory go first to God and then to the dedicated people of Corpus Christi, who painstakingly executed the plan and brought about victory in a very difficult situation. They overcame many obstacles and are still fighting to stop other taxpayer money from going to PP in the community. They are also following our plan to get PP out of the local schools. If you want to successfully fight PP in your community, read the plan at the link above. Jim Sedlak is willing to travel to your community to help get things organized. Just contact him at jsedlak@all.org.
Baby saved outside of PP facility
One of the most wonderful gifts that God gives those who fight to defend the most defenseless in the womb is news that we have saved a child. Here is a story about a child whose life was saved through prayer in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion mill.
“This little miracle was saved on Holy Saturday in front of Planned Parenthood on Miramar Road in San Diego. His name is Jaden, and he was born on Oct. 5.
"As she drove with her brother to get an abortion on Holy Saturday, Jaden’s mother asked God to send her a sign if she should not go through with it. When she saw the prayer group and spoke with those at the driveway, she knew that this was her intervention. She is so grateful to all who were there.
Jaden is one of the eight babies saved on Good Friday evening and Holy Saturday morning at the abortion mill. Liz Dubenetky of Life Choices in Poway was praying at the mill that morning and was able to speak with and help the mother of this baby. Two saves on that day were due to the efforts of the pro-life Catholic security guard on duty that day after the prayer warriors had left.”
Thank God for all those who have been saved through our presence at abortion mills. Please continue to picket and know that you may save a child’s life and never even know about it. We do this for God and the preborn, not personal gratification. Keep fighting.
Happy Thanksgiving!
All of us at American Life League wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving. You receive this weekly report because you are one of those on the front lines in the fight against Planned Parenthood. We encourage you to take a few moments today to reflect on the fact that there are many people all across the nation that are alive and celebrating Thanksgiving because of your selfless actions and dedication. May God bless you all!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Planned Parenthood pushing another major bill
We continue our analysis of Planned Parenthood’s plans following the election of Barack Obama. Last week, we told you about the Freedom of Choice Act. This week, we will give you a quick look at another major piece of legislation being championed by PP and supported by Obama: the Prevention First Act.
What is the Prevention First Act?
The Prevention First Act has several components, all of which would fund programs that are promoted by Planned Parenthood and would put millions more of our tax dollars into PP’s coffers. These components include
• Making Title X (family planning) a permanent program and funding it at $700 million or more. Since its inception in 1970, Title X of the Health and Human Services Act has always been a major funding source for PP. However, Title X is not a permanent program and must be reauthorized every year. Title X was funded at $300 million for fiscal year 2008. PP receives about 25 percent of the total or $75 million. Thus, the PFA would more than double the tax dollars given to PP ($175 million) by this one program. It would also make Title X a permanent program.
• Mandating that health insurance programs that cover prescriptions must cover abortifacient contraceptives. There are several reasons why some insurance companies do not include birth control coverage in their policies. Chief among them is that many of their customers belong to religions that are opposed to birth control and do not want to be forced to pay for this coverage. The PFA would take away the ability of consumers and insurance companies to seek the coverage they want and would force every insurance plan that covers prescription drugs to pay for birth control. This is an outrageous intrusion into the religious beliefs of millions of Americans.
• Creating a government program to push abortifacient “emergency contraception.” Selling emergency contraception is one of PP’s most lucrative activities. PP routinely purchases Plan B for $4.25 a kit and then sells it for $30 a kit, thus making a $25 profit on each one of the 1.5 million it sells each year. But still, PP is not content. The PFA would create a government-funded five-year “educational” program to promote emergency contraception and drive even more Plan B business to PP.
• Taking all federal money away from any hospital that refuses to administer emergency contraception (an abortifacient), to rape victims. Many hospitals, doctors and pharmacists have problems dispensing emergency contraception because of its abortifacient nature. Indeed, in the above-listed educational program, PP wants the government to tell the public that emergency contraception works by “preventing ovulation, fertilization of an egg, or implantation of an egg in a uterus.” Yet, this section of the PFA demands that hospitals tell patients that “emergency contraception does not cause an abortion.” In addition, it would require that every hospital, even Catholic, Baptist and others opposed to abortion for religious reasons, MUST provide patients with emergency contraception or lose all of their federal funding.
• Creating additional massive government funding for PP-style sex education programs (abstinence-only programs are specifically excluded from funding). Under the subprogram named “At-Risk Communities Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act,” the PFA would create a program to conduct research and educational sessions for the purpose of reducing teen pregnancy. All kinds of organizations (e.g. Planned Parenthood) would receive taxpayer funds, and all kinds of theories and ways of preventing teen pregnancy could be researched and taught EXCEPT abstinence-only programs. The PFA specifically stipulates that “funds under this section are not intended for use by abstinence-only education programs. Abstinence-only education programs that receive federal funds through the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, the Administration for Children and Families, the Adolescent Family Life Program, and any other program that uses the definition of ‘abstinence education’ found in section 510(b) of the Social Security Act are ineligible for funding.”
• Permanently including family planning services as part of the Medicaid program. The Medicaid program was never intended to pay for family planning services. Yet, beginning in the 1990s, states started applying for Medicaid waivers to allow them to add family planning for Medicaid-eligible recipients. The federal government has approved these waivers, and their approval must be renewed, on a state-by-state basis, every five years. Because of the waivers, Medicaid is now the largest single program providing taxpayer money for PP. The PFA would do away with the need for waivers and write family planning services permanently into Medicaid, thereby opening the floodgates of taxpayer funding for PP even wider.
What is the status of the Prevention First Act?
It is important to note that the election ushers in a new Congress in January. The current Congress, the 110th Congress, will cease to exist at the end of this year. In January, the 111th Congress will begin, and all of the newly elected members of the House and Senate will be part of the 111th Congress. All existing bills must be re-introduced in the new Congress and assigned new numbers, and the legislative process for each of them will start "from scratch." The current House bill (H.R.819) was originally introduced on February 5, 2007, was immediately referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce (in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor), and no further action was taken. It has 164 co-sponsors. The current Senate bill (S.21) was originally introduced on January 4, 2007 and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, where it still sits. It has 34 co-sponsors, including Barack Obama. Again, these current bills will disappear with the start of the new Congress, and the bills will have to be introduced once more. Under normal circumstances, it would take months for them to be voted on, but they could be fast-tracked.
What does Planned Parenthood say about the Prevention First Act?
Here is the statement by Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, on February 5, 2007, when the Prevention First Act was introduced in the House:
Today's introduction of the Prevention First Act signals a real step forward for health care in America. Currently, more than 17 million women in the U.S. need publicly funded family planning services, and there is not enough funding to meet the need. Nearly 750,000 teenagers in the U.S. will become pregnant this year. Prevention is the key to building strong, healthy families, and the Prevention First Act will help women and couples plan their families, plan their futures, and plan parenthood by expanding access to critically needed family planning education and reproductive health care services.
On February 13, Planned Parenthood Federation of America affiliates and their supporters will hold a nationwide Day of Action, calling on elected officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to pass the Prevention First Act and state legislation that are key to preventing unintended pregnancy and reducing the need for abortion by expanding access to birth control and real sex education.
Planned Parenthood also pushing PFA in states
In the statement above, Planned Parenthood mentions its intent to push PFA not only at the federal level, but also at the state level. A typical state bill is one that is currently being considered in Ohio. It is known as House Bill 251 and also Senate Bill 179. Among other things, these bills seek to do the following:
• Force insurance companies to cover birth control if they cover other prescriptions;
• Mandate that every hospital in the state provide emergency contraception to rape victims and tell the victims that emergency contraception does not cause an abortion;
• Replace abstinence-only sex ed with programs that gives equal time to the use of birth control and don’t tell children to save sex for marriage;
• Put taxpayer money into “teen pregnancy prevention” programs;
• Do away with the right of pharmacies and/or pharmacists to refuse to sell products that conflict with their religious beliefs;
• Rewrite the Ohio health funding bill to ensure that PP is directly eligible for taxpayer money for family planning services.
What can you do?
Despite the fact that Obama is actively supporting this horrible bill and the Democratic Party is firmly in control of the both chambers of the United States Congress, passage of this bill is not inevitable. We have spoken with a number of pro-life members of Congress and their staffs, and they believe that the Prevention First Act can be stopped.
But, in order to do so, it will take an active campaign of pro-lifers across the country. Here is what you can do:
1. Contact your members of Congress and let them know how you feel about the Prevention First Act.
2. Watch for updates in future Wednesday STOPP Reports. We will let you know as soon as the bills are introduced in the next Congress and give you the correct bill numbers.
3. Monitor the activity in your state and take action to prevent a state PFA from passing.
Wednesday STOPP Report - November 12, 2008
President-elect Obama and Planned Parenthood
With the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States, Planned Parenthood achieved a major political goal. Obama had courted PP's endorsement, which he received, and PP's Action Fund did a lot during the campaign to push the Obama candidacy. You can be sure that PP and its political-operative president, Cecile Richards, who spoke at the convention that nominated Obama, are delighted with the outcome.
Obama's promise
When Barack Obama appeared at a PP event during the primary campaign, he promised PP, "The first thing I will do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act."
What is the Freedom of Choice Act?
Simply put, if passed, the Freedom of Choice Act would do away with all legal restrictions on abortion. It would eliminate parental consent laws, waiting periods, restrictions on partial-birth abortion and any other restrictions that have been enacted at the state and federal level. FOCA would not prevent pro-life activity by groups and individuals. Picketing, prayer vigils, sidewalk counseling, pregnancy resource centers, truth tours, GAP projects and much more could all continue as before.
What is the actual wording of FOCA?
FOCA is a bill introduced in Congress. It must be voted on and approved by both chambers of Congress and then signed into law by the president. There are currently two bills in Congress: one in the House (H.R.1964) and one in the Senate (S.1173). Both bills contain the same wording:
(a) Statement of Policy - It is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.
(b) Prohibition of Interference - A government may not -
(1) deny or interfere with a woman's right to choose -
(A) to bear a child;
(B) to terminate a pregnancy prior to viability; or
(C) to terminate a pregnancy after viability where termination is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman; or(2) discriminate against the exercise of the rights set forth in paragraph (1) in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information.
(c) Civil Action - An individual aggrieved by a violation of this section may obtain appropriate relief (including relief against a government) in a civil action
What is the status of FOCA bills?
It is important to note that the election means that in January, we will have a new Congress. The current Congress is designated as the 110th Congress. It will cease to exist at the end of the year. In January, the 111th Congress will begin and all of the newly elected members of the House and Senate will be part of the 111th Congress. All existing bills must be re-introduced in the new Congress and assigned new numbers. Then the legislative process for each of them starts from scratch.
The current House bill (H.R.1964), originally introduced on April 19, 2007, was referred to the Judiciary Committee on May 4, 2007 and has sat there ever since. It has 109 co-sponsors. The current Senate bill (S.1173) was also originally introduced on April 19, 2007 and referred to the Judiciary Committee, where it still sits. It has 19 co-sponsors, including Barack Obama.
Again, these current bills will disappear with the start of the new Congress, and the bills will have to be re-introduced. Under normal circumstances, it would take months for them to come up for a vote, but they could be fast-tracked.
What does Planned Parenthood have to say about FOCA?
PPFA President Cecile Richards issued the following statement on the introduction of FOCA on April 19, 2007:
"Every year, millions of women depend on Planned Parenthood for reproductive health care services, including birth control, cancer screenings, and abortion. We challenged the federal abortion ban in court because it jeopardizes women's health and safety.
"The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling yesterday [upholding the partial-birth abortion law] in this case represents a seismic shift for the Supreme Court and the nation. With new Bush appointees, this court has unraveled more than 30 years of precedent protecting women's health. For the first time, the court told women that, when their health is at risk during pregnancy, deciding what to do is no longer up to them and their doctors, it is instead up to politicians. The future of legal access to abortion in this country is grim.""It's time for Congress to stand up for women's health, women's safety, and a woman's right to make her own medical decisions. American women deserve the protection of federal law to preserve their right to make personal health care decisions free of government intrusion. We call on Congress to pass the Freedom of Choice Act."
Thus, it is clear that PP sees FOCA as a means to secure abortion-on-demand throughout the country. FOCA must be stopped.
What can you do?
Despite the fact that Obama is actively supporting this horrible bill and the Democratic Party is firmly in control of both chambers of Congress, passage of this bill is not inevitable. We have spoken with a number of pro-life members of Congress and their staff, and they believe that FOCA can be stopped. But doing so will require a very active campaign by pro-lifers across the country. The first and most critical part of the effort to stop FOCA is for you to contact your members of Congress and let them know how you feel about FOCA. Remember that FOCA is an extreme measure that even many people who call themselves "pro-choice" are against.
1. Remind your congressional representatives that the overwhelming majority of Americans are in favor of parents being notified when their minor children are to have an abortion. Over 30 states have laws in place requiring some form of parental notification. Yet FOCA would undo this legal requirement.
2. Point out that almost all Americans find the partial-birth abortion procedure abhorrent and want it stopped. Yet, FOCA would strike down all the laws against this procedure.Now is the time for action. Contact your elected officials and encourage all of your friends to do the same.
American Life League has launched an educational effort to inform the American public of the dangers of this legislation. In addition to our use of the print media and presentations by our staff, we plan to produce an educational video as part of our ALL Report series and distribute that to hundreds of thousands of people across the country. As a regular reader of the Wednesday STOPP Report, you know that we rarely use it to solicit donations. However, FOCA is such a threat to the lives of preborn babies that we really need your help now. Your tax-deductible donation can help defray the costs of our educational campaign and allow us to reach as many people as possible with the truth about FOCA.
PLEASE consider making a donation now. You can donate on-line by clicking here, or call 888-546-2580 and donate using a credit card. Thank you for whatever you can do!
Wednesday STOPP Report: November 5, 2008
Video proves PP commits infanticide
In its latest video, Students for Life of America revealed very disturbing information that probably won't surprise most pro-lifers. Planned Parenthood not only supports infanticide, but certain clinics are actually committing the crime! In this disturbing video, a pregnant woman enters a PP facility in Freehold, New Jersey to discuss an abortion with a staff member. Here is a short, disturbing dialogue excerpt from the video:
Pregnant woman: "Is the baby alive?"
Nurse: "Usually not."
Pregnant woman: "Could the baby be born alive?"
Nurse: "Usually, for the most part no, but it does happen. . . It's an actual delivery, but it wouldn't be able to survive on its own, so eventually the baby does die."
Please watch this video and send it to as many people as possible. Here is an organization that is receiving over $330 million each year in taxpayer money and is continually treated as being above the law. If you have not yet signed the petition to defund PP, please do so now by following this link. We cannot allow this evil to go unchallenged. We must defend the defenseless who are being murdered through abortion and infanticide.
St. Louis PP offers free HIV testing
Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region is offering free HIV tests for high school students, in response to the news that up to 50 students in one high school district "may have been exposed to HIV," the AIDS-causing virus. PP wants to create a compassionate image: "Planned Parenthood remains concerned that St. Louis infection rates for sexually transmitted diseases are among the highest in the nation." However, PP contributes significantly to problems such as this with its message that "safe sex" is the only way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and infections. But we all know that chastity, modesty and saving sex for marriage are the best ways to avoid STDs. PP actually offers free HIV testing to recruit such students as customers, by encouraging them to coming in for other "services."
PP buys office in Fresno
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Inc. has purchased a new building in Fresno, California . The 10,311-square-foot building is in the First & Bullard Center, located at 6095 North First Street. PP purchased it for $1.3 million and plans to use the entire building. Pro-lifers just finished a 40 Days for Life event at the PP facility located at 650 North Fulton Street in Fresno and are expected to focus attention on this new PP facility. Please pray that God provides the resources needed by Fresno pro-lifers to combat this growing PP presence.
PP's New York City art gala
Planned Parenthood is hosting an "Art 20 2008 Preview Gala," to benefit PP Federation of America, PP Hudson Peconic, PP of Nassau County, and PP of New York City, on Thursday, November 6. Sanford L. Smith and Associates are producing this event, at which PP supporters will enjoy cocktails and hors d'oevres while viewing art exhibits. PP is making a determined effort to portray itself as part of normal society and divert attention from its abortion business, all the while lining its pockets. Please follow this link to contact Sanford L. Smith and Associates and ask them to stop supporting the primary killer of future art lovers in the United States - Planned Parenthood. Please pray that they will have a conversion of heart.
Florida PP facility's first year
Planned Parenthood of Southwest Florida recently celebrated its first year in Manatee County by hosting a luncheon and presenting one of PP 's SOURCE Teen Theater's reportedly "nationally award-winning plays." The play dealt with a pregnant 14-year-old's decision as to whether she should kill her preborn baby and glorifies PP for suggesting that a teen mother should murder her child. The SOURCE troupe has presented such performances in Manatee County schools.
At this event, the local PP center was applauded for bringing its brand of "comprehensive sex education" to a county rife with teen pregnancy. PP believes that the best way to fight teen pregnancy is not to promote what is natural - chastity and abstinence until marriage - but rather to promote promiscuity, ineffective birth control methods, abortifacients and, if all else "fails," which is quite common, surgical or medical abortions. PP is proud that two-thirds of its 400 customers so far this year have been between the ages of 12 and 24. And this is being applauded as success? This is what people consider beneficial sex education? Last week, we reported that pro-lifers in neighboring Sarasota County prevented PP from receiving $12,500 in taxpayer funds. Let's pray that God will use the growing pro-life influence on Florida's west coast to end PP's insidious activities in Manatee County as well.
Colorado sued over PP funding
The state of Colorado is facing a lawsuit filed by Colorado taxpayers for violating an amendment to Colorado's constitution that prohibits any funding, directly or indirectly, of abortion. The lawsuit's plaintiff, Mark Hotaling, who leads the Christian Family Alliance of Colorado, describes himself as a pro-life taxpayer. The lawsuit, which is for an estimated $18 million, has been filed against Governor Bill Ritter; Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains; James B. Martin, executive director of the state Department of Public Health and Environment; and Boulder Valley Women's Health Center.
Hotaling is represented by Alliance Defense Fund-affiliated attorney Barry Arrington. The lawsuit points out, "In 1984 the voters of the State of Colorado approved an amendment to the Colorado Constitution... prohibiting the use of public funds either directly or indirectly to pay for induced abortions." This is in reference to Article 5, Section 50, which states,
No public funds shall be used by the State of Colorado, its agencies or political subdivisions to pay or otherwise reimburse, either directly or indirectly, any person, agency or facility for the performance of any induced abortion.
Please pray for the plaintiff and Colorado taxpayers, so that their hard-earned tax money will be refunded to them and that the state of Colorado will abide by its own constitution, thus cutting off government funds for PP. Also, please pray that this lawsuit and Colorado's constitutional amendment will inspire other states to follow Colorado' pro-lifers' inspiring example of working to defund PP. Please follow this link to defund PP, if you haven't done so already.
Rock for Life's first-ever NPLTD contest
American Life League's Rock for Life is sponsoring its first-ever National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day Design Contest! The contest is open to anyone between the ages of 13 and 35. Prizes include Rock for Life merchandise, SONICFLOOd CDs and much more. For guidelines and ideas, go to www.NationalProLifeTshirtDay.com. And make sure to mark your calendar for the next National Pro-Life T-shirt Day, April 28, 2009!
40 Days done ... 520 lives saved
Congratulations to David Bereit and all those involved in the just-ended 40 Days for Life campaign! We have brought you information from the campaign's front lines over the last six weeks and have noted that many of the 40 Days events took place outside of PP facilities. David reports that at least 520 babies' lives were saved during this fall's campaign. Many of those were babies scheduled to die at PP facilities. David also sent an e-mail to American Life League with this very encouraging update:
Some GREAT news!
On a day when many are stressed about elections, I just heard from one of our 40 Days for Life local campaign leaders who is bouncing off the walls with the exciting news that the abortion facility that was the focus of their campaign over these last 40 days is CLOSING!
The "Space Available" real estate sign was put in front of the building on Thursday - day 37 of the campaign. Yesterday, the local leader confirmed with the real estate company that the abortionist is shutting the business down for good.
We will have more details, including the location, as soon as the facility is closed - which should happen very soon. But I knew you'd want to know that your prayers have produced an amazing result!
American Life League monitors activities outside of PP facilities across the country in our Map Room. Although many of the 40 Days activities will be taken off the map in the next week, we know, from experience, that at a number of PP locations, regular pro-life activities will continue. If you will be participating in activities that began during 40 Days, but are continuing on a regular basis, please send an e-mail to protests@all.org. Let us know the details of your ongoing effort, and we will post the information for the entire world to see.
During this last 40 Days campaign, when the special 40 Days events were combined with all of the ongoing regularly scheduled activities at PP facilities, there was activity outside of one-fifth of all PP facilities. We look forward to the day when there are regularly scheduled protests (including prayer vigils, picketing, sidewalk counseling, scripture walls and other prayerful, peaceful, legal efforts) outside of every PP facility. Please consider starting activity outside your local PP today!
Wednesday STOPP Report - October 29, 2008
PP offers new abortifacient birth control
Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, an upstate New York affiliate, has recently announced that it will be offering a new birth control product at its clinics. The product, named Implanon, is described as "a thin, flexible plastic implant that is inserted in the arm to prevent pregnancy." A thorough reading of the prescribing information for this product reveals that "the contraceptive effect of IMPLANON™ (etonogestrel implant) is achieved by several mechanisms that include suppression of ovulation, increased viscosity of the cervical mucus, and alterations in the endometrium."
In other words, despite the news media reporting that Implanon merely "releases a hormone that prevents the ovaries from releasing eggs," this product is just a new way of delivering the same old product that kills babies in the womb by preventing implantation. STOPP asks our supporters to become knowledgeable on this birth control method. Read all of the prescribing information linked above and be prepared to reveal its complications and side effects to women who are considering using this abortifacient drug.
PP trying to sneak into North Carolina?
We have seen Planned Parenthood employ a new tactic within the past few years: sneaking into a new location under a false name. Case in point: PP's clinic in Aurora, Illinois. Pastor Johnny Hunter of Fayetteville, North Carolina suspects PP is trying to move into a new location in Fayetteville and is determined to "out" the multimillion-dollar abortion giant and keep it from sneaking in. "I refuse to sit back and let an organization founded by a racist sneak into our town and set up a shop to murder babies," he said. Rev. Hunter says that he found out that PP is trying to sneak in under the name of Tharrington Medical Clinic, and he organized a rally last Saturday to protest PP. STOPP is not surprised by PP's strategy of trying to sneak into town by any means possible, including lying to residents and surrounding businesses. STOPP applauds Pastor Hunter for his courage and prays that he is successful in focusing attention on PP and keeping it from moving into Fayetteville.
CareSource Foundation gives grant to PPSO
The CareSource Foundation recently gave grants to 20 organizations in Ohio involved in one of three areas of concern: issues of the uninsured, critical children's health trends and community health issues. The grants ranged from $3,000 to $20,000. In what seems to have been a mistake on someone's part, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio received a $5,000 grant to help promote "healthy birth outcomes." Apparently, the CareSource Foundation considers abortion as a healthy birth outcome, which comes as a surprise to American Life League. "Abortion is not a healthy birth outcome; it is exactly the opposite," said Patrick Daub, researcher for ALL's STOPP department. "There is nothing healthy about murdering an innocent preborn child and ending the pregnancy in the most unnatural way possible. How could the CareSource Foundation justify this donation with the terminology that they use?"
STOPP asks that all of our readers write to CareSource and demand that PP be taken off its list of grant recipients.Follow this link to get the information on how to call, e-mail or send a letter to CareSource. Please pray that its eyes will be opened and that all of PP's funding will be removed. Also, please sign the petition to defund PP, if you have not already, and send the link on to your friends, family, acquaintances, and fellow pro-life activists.
Indiana parish stands with PP at 'gay pride' event
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church of Lafayette, Indiana was involved in a "gay pride" festival that also hosted Planned Parenthood on October 11, 2008. The parish's participation in OUToberfest has stirred up quite a bit of controversy, because it sends mixed messages to parishioners and other Catholics in the diocese. Naomi Whittaker, a Purdue University student and supporter of American Life League, took it upon herself to do something about the parish's involvement and sent a letter to Bishop William L. Higi requesting that the parish be held responsible for its actions. Whittaker received this response:
"The participation of the parish was in conjunction with other Christian Churches of the area who were reaching out in solidarity to homosexual persons as children of Our Loving God. He (the parish pastor) assured me that this effort was not condoning a particular lifestyle or choice." ALL's vice president, Jim Sedlak, had this to say about St. Thomas Aquinas' involvement: "It is absolutely outrageous for a Catholic church to stand alongside Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, and give implicit endorsement of an event and lifestyle antithetical to the Catholic faith." Please pray that the bishop and pastor recognize their error and issue a statement to clarify the Catholic Church's stance on supporting PP and homosexuality.
Ohio county debating PP funding
The Hamilton County, Ohio Board of Commissioners is considering changes that would give them more say over which organizations receive funding through the county's Family and Children First Council. The commissioners agreed to this shortly after a voting 2-1 that funds the council allocated to Planned Parenthood last year had been spent according to the rules, since county and state policies prohibit public funding of abortion-related "services." The dissenting vote was cast by Commissioner Pat DeWine, who proposed that the commissioners should approve the council's funding decisions from now on. DeWine commented, "There's a significant segment of the population that opposes funding of Planned Parenthood." The council will also "revisit" its recent decision to put PP back on its list of sub-grantees. PP had been removed from the list about eight or nine years earlier.
Please pray that the commissioners pass DeWine's proposal, so that PP will be one step closer to losing even more of the taxpayers' money. We ask our readers to sign our petition to defund PP and to encourage everyone they know to the same.
PP groundbreaking draws large protest
Last week, STOPP informed our readers that Planned Parenthood was beginning construction of a new abortuary in Portland, Oregon, and the groundbreaking event took place on Wednesday, October 22 as the Wednesday STOPP Report was sent. STOPP also informed you that there was going to be a large protest during the ceremony. The protesters kept their word. More than 150 protesters gathered and collected hundreds of signatures to keep the controversial 40,000-square-foot clinic from opening. STOPP applauds these protesters for fighting back against PP and recognizes that one of the most effective ways to fight PP is to become active and be a presence in your community.
PP denied funding in Sarasota, Florida!
The Sarasota, Florida County Commission denied a requested $12,500 grant for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida by a 4-1 vote last week. The proposed $12,500 grant was half of what PP had received from the county last year. It has been receiving county funding for the past 10 years. This year, the county looked to cut the budget for funding social services, and PP was the only organization, of the 45 groups that received funding last year, that was completely denied funding. The county cut social services funding because of "across-the-board reductions implemented by the county due to declining tax revenues." PP claimed the funds were needed to fund its so-called comprehensive sex education program.
In an e-mail sent to STOPP, Jim Styer, president of Right to Life of Sarasota and Manatee, reports, "When nonprofits were asked this year to reduce requests because of the tight county budget, PP instead submitted the same request as last year." Styer also reported that when it came to the 4-1 decision to cut funding, "The only holdout was Nora Patterson, former local PP president and wife of an attorney for PP." PP of Southwest and Central Florida already had a $7-million budget and received enough private funding - $8 million to be exact - to build the nation's second largest abortion clinic.
STOPP thanks God for this victory and applauds Jim Styer and his group for all of their hard work over many years. The Lord has truly blessed their dedication and perseverance. Planned Parenthood CAN be defeated. With God, all things are possible!
Wednesday STOPP Report - October 22, 2008
Planned Parenthood recognizes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In an ironic twist, Planned Parenthood is speaking out on the dangers and risks of breast cancer. What makes this ironic is abortion is a major risk factor for breast cancer. Here is an organization that earns one-third of its clinic income from abortion and yet is educating the public on one of the serious health problems that abortion can cause. What PP fails to recognize or acknowledge is the fact that women under the age of 18 who have an induced abortion increase their breast cancer risk by 150 percent. There have been several studies that show a link between breast cancer and abortion. PP has ignored these studies, and abortion advocates claim that there is no link or that it is impossible to find a link between the two. PP also fails to recognize a link between breast cancer and oral contraceptives. Studies have shown that women taking oral contraceptives also have an increased risk of breast cancer.
PP has long used breast cancer and mammograms as a publicity stunt to convince the ignorant or naïve that they are truly here to help women. (It is interesting to note that the number of breast exams done at PP has fallen by 17 percent over the last five years.) We know that our readers are not going to allow PP to pull the wool over their eyes. We ask you to use National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to inform others that PP is running a business by selling two of the causes of increased breast cancer risk: abortion and contraceptives. Please also contact Susan G. Komen For the Cure and ask them why they support PP when PP is helping to increase breast cancer. For a list of the studies that have proven the link between breast cancer and abortion, please follow this link.
Construction to begin on Portland Planned Parenthood clinic
Construction of the Planned Parenthood facility on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, in Portland, Oregon, is set to begin next week. STOPP brought this story to our readers' attention when PP first announced its intention to build this new killing center. There have been numerous protests and setbacks for PP's plans, including the first construction firm backing out of the deal because of controversy and PP having trouble finding a new firm.
PP is claiming to be "maxed out" – short of funds – and is asking its supporters to donate. Apparently, PP forgot about its hundreds of millions of dollars in liquid assets. PP is celebrating the beginning phase of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony today. Bill Diss, who has been a leading voice in the battle against this new PP facility, vows to have protesters there. "It's still blessed and unbroken ground, and that is good," commented Diss. Please keep praying that PP does not reach its financial goal and is forced to back out of the deal.
Iowa woman left money for Planned Parenthood
A woman in Shenandoah, Iowa wanted to leave a mark on this world in what was her last act in this world. Iowa resident Millie Morgan, a long-time Planned Parenthood supporter, decided to include a gift for the organization in her estate plans. Millie left PP enough money to purchase a new exam table, shelves and signage. "Millie's gift will be forever remembered and provide our center with a new exam table, a new chart shelving unit and signage, to go on the frontage road near the center," Red Oak Planned Parenthood Center manager Marti Clark-Moffett said. "She would have been excited to see her donation going to help the center run smoother and increasing PPGI's presence in the community."
We ask our readers to pray and do penance for the deliverance of Millie's soul from purgatory, in the hope that, before she died, she underwent a conversion, repented and was a firsthand witness to God's wonderful mercy. Please pray for Millie and all those who support PP and abortion, so that God's love and mercy may shine through and soften their hardened hearts.
Planned Parenthood fighting personhood initiative
Planned Parenthood is terrified by Colorado's proposed personhood amendment and knows that it could mean the end of its days as a "megamillion-dollar" organization. So what has it done to fight back? How about donating almost half a million dollars to combat this ballot initiative? That's right. PP is putting a lot of money into fighting Amendment 48. PP realizes that legally declaring the child in the womb to be what the child naturally is – a human person – is the first major step toward ending the culture of death.
American Life League supports this proposal. We ask our supporters to pray for the state of Colorado, that all of its residents may realize how precious life is. We also encourage Colorado for Equal Rights to continue its amazingly courageous fight against PP and other abortion advocates. Visit its web site to learn more.
NPLTD contest announced
American Life League is starting to prepare for National Pro-Life T-shirt Day in April 2009 by announcing that this year, our shirt will be designed by you, our supporters! Have you ever had an idea for a great pro-life T-shirt that you thought would look great? Want your shirt to be displayed across the nation and know that it will be used for one of the greatest causes ever? Then you need to compete in our first-ever NPLTD contest. Please stay tuned for more information in the near future.
40 Days for Life a thorn in Planned Parenthood's side
Planned Parenthood is clearly not happy with the 40 Days for Life vigils outside of its clinics and is complaining to the media about them. PP is unhappy because the campaign is making quite an impact on its business. Several 40 Days for Life participants have sent in reports indicating that the vigils are having a noticeable impact on PP workers and facilities. This is a wonderful testimony to God's power. In Spokane, Washington, one participant said that PP's business was so slow that it sent out eight workers to counterprotest the 40 Days for Life vigil:
"Two or three more joined them within the next half hour," said Inga. "They lined up on the curb on either side of our prayer volunteers, with an 'in-your-face' attitude, mocking us with their looks and laughter. This was the first time in either campaign that we have encountered this kind of persecution."
Inga said only two people were signed up to pray at the vigil when this happened, but God had other plans. The people who were scheduled to leave the vigil stayed and kept praying – and other people kept arriving to join them until more than two dozen faithful believers were gathered in prayer outside of Planned Parenthood.
Bishop Holley urges the black community to fight Planned Parenthood
Bishop Martin D. Holley, auxiliary bishop of Washington, D.C., recently issued a powerful statement calling attention to the fact that "Black women continue to be targeted by the abortion industry" and urging the African-American community to fight back against Planned Parenthood and the rest of the abortion industry. Bishop Holley commented on the recent PP study showing that African American women have an abortion rate that is five times higher than that of white women, and he called for the defunding of PP. "Every year the federal government gives over $300 million to PP," Bishop Holley pointed out. "Last year for the first time, Planned Parenthood took in over one billion dollars and reported a profit of $[114] million."
STOPP commends Bishop Holley for his strong stance against PP and applauds his courage in standing up against the abortion giant. Please pray for Bishop Holley and bishops everywhere that they will unite to fight PP and other abortion and contraception providers everywhere. If you still have not signed the petition to defund PP, please do so by following this link.
Your prayers are desperately needed!
Today, as we were putting the finishing touches on our Wednesday STOPP Report, American Life League received this prayer request email from David Bereit, National Campaign Director of 40 Days for Life. Please read and keep this intention in your prayers all day.
Dear Jim,
I have an URGENT prayer request... On Saturday a medical worker at a Planned Parenthood abortion center where a 40 Days for Life campaign is happening approached the prayer volunteers outside. She said that Planned Parenthood had told its workers that they would be immediately fired if they ever talked to those on the sidewalk, but she felt drawn to them -- and she shared that she desperately wants out of her job. She explained that after she started working at Planned Parenthood earlier this year, the abortion business assigned her the gruesome task of counting the baby body parts following each abortion to make sure everything was removed from the mother.
What she has seen inside the walls of Planned Parenthood is horrific. She then shared that several weeks ago a young woman sat before her registering for an abortion and said, "I'm so conflicted, should I do this or not?" She leaned forward and quietly told her, "Don't do this." The girl left, her baby alive within her. A co-worker overheard and reported her to the abortion center's supervisor who wrote her up and put a stern warning in her employment file.
She asked the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers if she could meet Monday with someone who might be able to help her -- and the time she had available was the exact time that Jim Pinto, pastoral associate for Priests for Life, was there in town for his visit to the 40 Days for Life location. Jim stopped everything else to pray for her, with her, and over her. He also connected her with an organization called The Centurions that helps to bring abortion providers out of the abortion industry where they can find forgiveness and healing in Christ and restore their sense of self-worth.
The 40 Days for Life volunteers are now taking up a collection to provide for her short-term needs so she can leave her job immediately and they are helping her find another job quickly since she is the sole provider for her four daughters and needs income. Jim, there is a real possibility that these faithful 40 Days for Life volunteers may be able to help her walk away from the abortion industry TODAY! Praise God for what He is doing in this woman's life, and please keep her -- and this situation -- in your prayers throughout the day.
Margaret Sanger celebrated by the Smithsonian
Just the title of the story is enough to get any pro-life activist outraged, but that is just the beginning. The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery has a new, federally funded exhibit that, according to the museum's curator, "celebrates women who have challenged and changed America over the past century." The exhibit includes a section on Planned Parenthood founder, well-known racist, eugenics advocate and Nazi sympathizer Margaret Sanger. "We are looking to represent individuals who have had a significant impact on the nation as a whole," said Ann Shumard, the museums' photography curator. "This is outrageous," Jim Sedlak responded. "Sanger is portrayed as having a positive impact on society when she is probably the largest mass murderer in the history of the world."
It is outrageous that taxpayer money is being used to "celebrate" one of the world's leading supporters and advocates of eugenics. Margaret Sanger was not a woman to be celebrated. Her push to legalize birth control has led to horrendous evils such as abortion and an overall lack of respect for life. Please write to the Smithsonian and demand that materials on Sanger be removed from the exhibit.
Planned Parenthood fighting for secrecy
Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio is waiting to hear from the Supreme Court of Ohio as to whether or not it has to turn over hundreds of medical records. PPSO is facing a lawsuit filed by the parents of a child who, in 2004, was 14 and the victim of statutory rape by her soccer coach. Her parents are suing PPSO for violating Ohio's parental notification law. The parents' attorneys have requested PP's records to find out if this alleged violation was a one-time event or part of a pattern of consistent evasion of the law. PP claimed that releasing such documents would violate its clients' privacy.
Planned Parenthood is known for its secrecy and its attempts to avoid any scrutiny. Please pray that PP will be ordered to provide documentation. After all, if Planned Parenthood is a law-abiding organization, as we are led to believe, why would it not show its documents? What does it have to hide? Follow this link to sign a petition to defund Planned Parenthood and help us move one step closer to protecting ourselves from this evil organization.
Planned Parenthood caught breaking the law on tape... again
As if recent tapes exposing Planned Parenthood as a racist organization were not already enough negative publicity, PP was recently caught on tape yet again. It has been violating laws for years now, and thanks to Students for Life of America, we have even more proof of it. On October 1, 2008, SFLA released a video of recorded conversations between a Planned Parenthood worker and two undercover SFLA students who posed as 14-year-old and 15-year-olds. The undercover students claimed to be involved in a sexual relationship with a man in his thirties, which would constitute statutory rape. The PP staffer was informed of the illegal activity and failed to report the incident to the proper authorities.
SFLA later checked statutory rape reports and discovered that Planned Parenthood had reported no cases on the day coinciding with the calls. Kristan Hawkins, SFLA's executive director, commented, "These videos are simply shocking. That Planned Parenthood staffers acknowledged the girls were being raped and then did not report the crime is horrific. They allowed these girls to go home to their rapists and even confirmed that their rapists could get the morning-after pill for them to cover their crimes."
We again urge all of our readers to become involved in the effort to rid our country of PP and its evil practices. One of the best ways to do so is to be out there on the front lines, picketing in front of a Planned Parenthood clinic. To find out the nearest PP facility near you, visit http://www.stopp.org/maps. We must fight back!
Planned Parenthood clinical trial raises questions
Planned Parenthood facilities across the country participate in various clinical trials. However, one that they are currently involved in raises even more questions PP's handling of statutory rape cases. The Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is participating in a trial, sponsored by an anonymous foundation, "to determine whether there is increased oral contraceptive pill (OCP) adherence in women receiving daily text messaging reminders to take their OCP, compared to women who do not receive reminders. The investigators hypothesize that women who receive daily text messaging reminders to take their OCP will have increased pill adherence compared to women who do not receive reminders."
In addition, "the investigators also hope to determine whether there is a difference in OCP adherence as measured by electronic monitoring device and wireless real-time data collection versus traditional patient pill diaries. The investigators hypothesize that electronic monitoring device and wireless real-time data collection will demonstrate lower adherence compared to traditional patient pill diaries." The rules for the trial say that girls as young as 14-years-old can participate! Some might argue that perhaps the girls are taking the pill for other medical reasons, but the rules for the trial specifically exclude any girl "electing OCPs solely for non-contraceptive benefits only." Any girl under 18 must have the permission of a parent or guardian, but how can a parent or guardian give girls permission to engage in illegal activities? The age of consent in Massachusetts is 16-years-old. We encourage all of our readers in Massachusetts to bring this research to the attention of law enforcement. If you need further details, e-mail us at stopp@all.org.
STOPP visits Wichita, Kansas
American Life League's vice president, Jim Sedlak, recently returned from Wichita, Kansas, where he gave a talk explaining how to fight back against Planned Parenthood and defund it. Jim was very pleased with the outcome of the talk, because he knows that he left a great group of people who are ready to continue their battle against Planned Parenthood. "Right to Life of Kansas is an active group and currently involved in an effort to end Planned Parenthood tax funding in the state," said Jim. "I was honored to spend time with these fantastic people." Please remember that you too can have Jim or any of our American Life League speakers come and give a talk to your group. To arrange for a speaker, e-mail us at stopp@all.org.
40 Days for Life vigil showering Planned Parenthood clinics with prayer
The 40 Days for Life campaign has targeted Planned Parenthood clinics this year, and the fruits of their labor are already showing. There have been numerous success stories, ranging from a Burlington, Vermont PP killing center having trouble finding someone to commit abortions, to a an Orange County, California PP employee encouraging pro-lifers to keep praying and make their signs visible to the women seeking abortions. Below, a 40 Days for Life participant relates just two of the numerous stories of babies saved and hearts changed during this fall's campaign:
A young woman in Fort Wayne, Indiana was on her way to the clinic for her pre-abortion "counseling" appointment. As she drove, she saw two of the "Pray and fast to end abortion" signs in people's yards. At that point, she knew she could not go through with the abortion. She turned around and went home. How do we know? The young woman's mother told a friend, who told another friend - who told one of the local 40 Days for Life coordinators.
In another lifesaving incident..., "Tell everyone that God has blessed us with yet another baby saved!" writes Joellyn in Minnesota. "I went to Planned Parenthood and God allowed me to assist a woman who is seven weeks pregnant. We just go out, speak the truth and leave the results to God. He is working miracles all over!'"
We all must thank God for these wonderful successes and continue to fight Planned Parenthood. These stories should encourage us all to continue working against Planned Parenthood and be ever more vigilant in this battle. Pregnancy center fights back against Planned Parenthood ... and wins!
Planned Parenthood could be considered the abortion industry's biggest bully. Planned Parenthood of Ottawa proved it last year when it launched a media attack against First Place Pregnancy Centre. PPO was furious when this crisis pregnancy center was one of the three organizations chosen to receive a large charitable donation from Our Better Halves, a group made up of wives and girlfriends of Ottawa's hockey team, the Ottawa Senators. PPO and its allies accused First Place of being "anti-choice" and caused such a stir that First Place voluntarily withdrew as one of the OBH's recipient organizations, to spare OBH from the resulting negative publicity. However, First Place filed a lawsuit against PPO for interfering with its funding and for defamation. PPO recently settled out of court with First Place. Although the details cannot be disclosed to the public, First Place seems to have successfully stood up for itself against PPO's intimidation.
STOPP congratulates First Place for its success in fighting back against Planned Parenthood's bullying. First Place has shown that we can defeat Planned Parenthood. All we have to do is stick together, follow the legal procedures and stand strong, with God's help!
American Life League calls for nationwide investigation of PP
Wednesday STOPP Report - October 1, 2008
Planned Parenthood desperate to stop protest in Colorado
Planned Parenthood in Durango, Colorado is really being bothered by LifeGuard' weekly protests. Since they began a couple of years ago, Planned Parenthood has erected a fence and is trying to get the police to intimidate peaceful protestors, to discourage them from protesting. The latest incident at this clinic, on June 11, 2008, resulted in local protestor Jean Paul Wright being arrested on charges of trespass and assault. Wright, who was released on bail for $1,500, had a preliminary court date set for September 16, but more time is needed because the plaintiff, Pamela Beckert, a security guard for Planned Parenthood, has come forward with more injury claims, according to District Attorney Craig Westberg.
Beckert claims that Wright's sign had blown onto PP's property while he was protesting. Beckert claims she picked up the sign and that as she went to hand the sign to Wright, he became very upset. Beckert changed her mind about giving Wright the sign and dropped the sign. Beckert claims that as she went to pick the sign up, Wright charged her and pushed her to the ground. Colorado's LifeGuard Executive Director, Michaela Dasteel, gave the Wednesday STOPP Report the following statement:
"I was at the other end of Planned Parenthood's parking lot and heard a commotion. Harriet Fehringer, who had been standing next to Jean and witnessed the incident from beginning to end, came around and told me what she had just seen. She said that Jean had darted out to get the sign after two of Planned Parenthood's people had refused to bring it to him. As he reached for the sign, Pam had elbowed him and then plopped down on top of his arm, pinning Jean and the sign to the ground. Jean pulled himself out from under Pam and returned to his protest spot. Pam's first utterance after going down on her bottom was "Oh, I hurt myself" which she quickly changed to "He, hurt me, call the police, assault, assault, assault", which she kept repeating. Pam's witnesses – a volunteer 'deathscort' – and a woman who was waiting to drive another home after an abortion (both of whom were either reading or talking on the phone as the incident began to unfold) – repeated Pam's story, that Jean had assaulted Pam. Pam and her witnesses are lying."
Because picketing is so effective, Planned Parenthood will do whatever it can to drive you away. We encourage all protestors outside of Planned Parenthood facilities to always have video cameras on hand to record your activities there. Had there been a video camera at this event, the truth of what happened would have been much easier to prove.
College group trying to get 'comprehensive sex ed' on campus
Planned Parenthood is using its VOX chapter at Utah Valley University to spread the lies of "comprehensive sex ed" programs throughout the state of Utah. Utah requires and funds abstinence-only programs, and PP is not happy about that because it is losing business. How do you sell abortion and contraception to people who are not participating in PP's promiscuity-promoting programs? The group claims it has already collected more than 4,500 signatures and is trying to fight the abstinence message by handing out condoms to students. Planned Parenthood realizes that its largest demographic is college students and that college is the time to target the youth and promote promiscuity. Educate your friends, families, coworkers and associates about the dangers of Planned Parenthood's sex ed programs, which are vehicles for spreading its lies and advertising its services.
Planned Parenthood celebrates 40 years by targeting potential new clients
Last week was a very busy week for Planned Parenthood in Elmira, New York. Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes decided that it would celebrate its 40th anniversary by going after potential new clients and spreading its lies. The group had an official celebration in Elmira at the Corning Museum of Glass on Monday, which was attended by PP's national president, Cecile Richards. Then personnel from the local facility visited Elmira College and pushed its "comprehensive sex education" on the students there. They also decided that they would hand out free birth control, just as PP of South Central New York recently did (as we reported in last week's WSR). PPSFL is not sitting by and accepting the status quo. It is looking to spread its lies and bring in more money. The only way to keep it from tightening its grasp on our children is to fight back and become active in the battle against Planned Parenthood. We encourage all of our STOPP readers in New York to please contact the Corning Museum of Glass and tell them to keep Planned Parenthood out.
Pro-Life Memorial Day just days away
We remind all of you that Pro-Life Memorial Day is on Monday, October 6, 2008 and ask you to help us spread the message and get involved. This is a day to mourn all of those lost through abortion and the Supreme Court's decision to decriminalize abortion. Watch our latest ALL Report, and send it to all of your friends and family. Let us be a voice for the innocent preborn children who have been forever silenced!
Babies saved from Planned Parenthood
We received the following account of a baby saved from abortion in Indianapolis, Indiana:
On Wednesday, September 24, at 7:30 AM the Indianapolis community joined 178 other cities across the country for 40 Days of prayer and fasting to end abortion. Men and women from St. Barnabas and St. Jude parishes and Fr. Steve Banet, pastor of St. Jude's, went to cover Planned Parenthood in prayer in one-hour shifts until 7:30 PM. Because of the "18 hour law" in Indiana, women must have an appointment for "counseling" and then wait at least 18 hours before their abortion can be scheduled. Therefore, some days are "counseling" days at the abortion centers and other days are scheduled with actual abortions. Wednesday was a "counseling" day at Planned Parenthood and only prayer warriors for 40 Days-Indy were present as women drove in for counseling. Just after 11 AM, as a car was pulling out of the Planned Parenthood driveway, it stopped and the driver waved to the prayer warriors to send someone over. Susie Walsh of St. Barnabas hesitated and then walked over to the car expecting the woman at the wheel to scold her. Instead, the woman told Susie to tell her friends that their prayers were working and that her daughter, who was sitting beside her in the car, had chosen life for her baby and would not be returning for an abortion.
In Fresno, California, another 40 Days for Life participant shared a story of a preborn child being saved:
I stood outside of Planned Parenthood for about six-and-a-half hours today, most of those hours alongside my wife, who is 9 months pregnant. A young, attractive girl started walking toward me from the Planned Parenthood driveway. I smiled at her thinking she was a Planned Parenthood employee.
The young woman said she wanted to ask me some questions, and I told her that I'd be glad to answer any questions she could think of. She asked why we were out here. At that point, I knew she wasn't a Planned Parenthood employee, because she would have known exactly why we're out here! I told her that we were there to peacefully pray for an end to abortion. I introduced myself and asked for her name, and she shook my hand saying her name was Ashley.
Then she said, "Well, I changed my mind." I figured maybe she had become pro-life, so I asked her what she meant by that. Ashley responded, "I was going to have an abortion, but I'm not going to now." My eyes widened, I gave her a huge smile and told her that she was my new favorite person! (Except for my wife, of course!)
Ashley explained further that she saw a news story on TV about us this morning and knew she couldn't have an abortion. I hadn't seen that coverage yet, so I asked her what it was about the story that changed her mind. She said that she saw men and women praying and holding signs and Bibles, and she knew that she couldn't go through with the abortion.
Ashley is 16 years old, and five weeks pregnant. Her parents wanted her to have the abortion and have now kicked her out of their house and taken her cell phone. She's living with a friend now. I began to tell Ashley about the local pregnancy care center and how much help we personally can offer her as well. I told her, "You're not alone.""
These two stories prove the effectiveness of being on the streets in front of Planned Parenthood. The 40 Days for Life campaign (www.40daysforlife.com) is a tremendous way of doing just that, but your presence is needed outside of PP facilities all year long. To join in saving lives outside of Planned Parenthood, go to our Map Room (www.all.org/stopp/maps), find a protest near you and join it. If there is no protest near you … start one! There are instructions in the Map Room on how to do that.
Hillary Clinton and Cecile Richards unite against conscience rights
New York's Senator Hillary Clinton and Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, have co-authored an op-ed piece opposing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed rule, which would require that employees of federally funded healthcare facilities not be required to provide or assist with medical services they find immoral. The two women find fault with the fact that the proposed legislation does not force healthcare workers to sacrifice their moral beliefs. They write, “The new rule would go further, ensuring that all employees and volunteers for health care entities can refuse to aid in providing any treatment they object to, which could include not only abortion and sterilization but also contraception.”
However, American Life League believes that this proposed regulation is a step in the right direction and would be a godsend for the protection of healthcare workers' conscience rights. Please follow this link to comment on the proposed regulation. You have until Friday, September 26, 2008 to add your comment.
PP offers free birth control
Today, Planned Parenthood of South Central New York is offering, free of charge, Plan B birth control, also known as “emergency contraception” or the “morning-after pill,” to anyone over age 18 with a photo ID. Plan B is an abortifacient birth control pill that is used "up to five days" after intercourse and works to keep the newly formed child from implanting in the mother’s womb. PP is offering the free abortifacient pills at their new location in Binghamton, New York, which has already been the center of controversy. PP spokeswoman Ingrid Husisian admits that the reason for the Plan B free giveaway is to draw regular customers: "When people come in for their free emergency contraception, one of the things we'll encourage is would you like to book an appointment on your way out so you can get on a regular method of birth control."
Planned Parenthood argues that Plan B is not an abortifacient by claiming that life does not begin until implantation. However, STOPP and our WSR readers understand that life begins at fertilization and that Plan B can prevent an embryo from implanting in the womb, thus causing an early abortion. Please make sure that you are up to date on all of the latest information about PP and its "services" by visiting www.all.org/stopp. Then use this information to inform others!
PP joins with ACLU to fight abstinence
Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union are joining forces to fight abstinence-only education. The two groups, along with four others, are pushing Kentucky health departments to turn down $820,000 in abstinence-only education funding. Planned Parenthood wants to teach its brand of “comprehensive sex education” and knows that abstinence education is not conducive to increasing its contraception and abortion business. Derek Selznick, "reproductive-freedom project director" for Kentucky's ACLU, claims, "One of the biggest problems is that we know teens are having sex, regardless of what message is being presented to them”. Selznick fails to recognize that PP and its agenda of making money by selling sex has contributed significantly to social decay by causing the teen pregnancy rate to skyrocket. The reason “teens are having sex, regardless of what message is presented to them” is that PP is forcing sex onto the teens and encouraging them not only to have sex, but to believe they can avoid suffering any consequences from it by going to the local PP office for contraception and abortion "services." We are calling on all WSR readers to encourage their local representatives to support giving the abstinence-only message to our children and defunding Planned Parenthood and its “comprehensive sex ed” programs. Please sign the petition to defund PP here.
Chocolate, wine, silent auction … birth control?
What do these things have in common? They are all part of Planned Parenthood of Delaware’s "Fourth Annual Chocolate Festival and Silent Auction." PPDE hopes to lure in prospective donors by offering a silent auction, food from local restaurants and a chocolate fountain provided by The Melting Pot. Marion Hamermesh, a PPDE board member and the event's chairwoman, said, “The chocolate and auction items are a great draw, but the nicest part of the event is that supporters show up to help PPDE protect reproductive rights and continue to provide quality, confidential reproductive care to Delawareans. It turns out to be a wonderful evening for everyone.” PP uses anything it can to appear as anything but the evil organization it is. It tries to mingle with the community and eliminate well-founded qualms about what it actually does. STOPP is calling on The Melting Pot to stop supporting PP by helping with this fundraiser. Please contact The Melting Pot and let them know that if they continue to support PP, we will ask everyone we know to boycott its restaurants.
ALL joins National Summit to Defeat Planned Parenthood
Last week, American Life League met with about 20 other pro-life groups in Chicago, Illinois to start a nationwide joint effort against Planned Parenthood. The conference theme, “Planned Parenthood is BAD for America,” brought together national pro-life leaders who will work together to defund PP, among other things. Our own Jim Sedlak, American Life League's Vice President, gave the opening remarks: "Planned Parenthood's Vision for the Future." Jim was pleased with the meeting and turnout: “The attendees at this meeting have been fighting Planned Parenthood individually for a long time, and now we will be working together to reveal the full truth about this evil empire.” The pro-life leaders also drafted a joint statement outlining why opposition to Planned Parenthood is critical for the pro-life movement. To view the statement and a photo of the attendees, visit: http://prolifeaction.org. Watch for further developments as the fight against Planned Parenthood continues to expand all across the country.
40 Days for Life starts today
40 days for Life starts its nationwide campaign today and is going out of its way to ensure that there is a presence in front of as many Planned Parenthood facilities as possible. During last year's 40 Days for Life fall campaign, there were pro-lifers holding vigils outside of 39 Planned Parenthood centers. This year, the number has more than doubled and pro-lifers have increased their presence to 87 Planned Parenthood locations Follow this link to find the nearest location and get involved with the vigils. God bless all who are involved and those who organized these prayerful vigils.
Pro-life Memorial Day almost here – get your shirts now!
Pro-life Memorial Day is almost here, and American Life League is making sure that we get as many people involved as possible. We have found that one of the greatest tools that we have as a movement is our ability to spread our message through many different forms of media. We need to spread the message that 49 million children have been aborted since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Not only do we need to mourn those children lost through abortion, we need to let the world know that we are killing off our generations to come. One of ALL’s most effective weapons against abortion is printing our message on T-shirts, hoodies and signs. For this year's Pro-life Memorial Day, ALL has designed a special commemorative shirt to convey the event's importance. Now we are offering the shirt to all of our readers for a special price. STOPP is offering WSR readers a special discount and gift if you order a shirt this week. The shirt is now only $6.00, and you will receive a commemorative armband FREE with every shirt you order. But you must act quickly so that you get a shirt and get it in time.
All orders must be received by this Monday, September 29, to ensure you receive it in time for the event. Remember, a shirt is a great way to let the world know of the evils of abortion. Are you willing to dedicate just one of the year's 365 days to the memory of the 49,540,776 children who have lost their lives to abortion? Go to www.prolifememorialday.com now to get involved!
Marie’s report from Augusta, Maine
Our own Marie Hahnenberg, researcher for STOPP, shares her experience of visiting STOPPers in Augusta, Maine:
On September 20, I had the privilege of meeting some wonderful pro-lifers in Augusta, Maine. This was my first visit to Maine, and it is such a beautiful state filled, with such beautiful people. However, there are currently four Planned Parenthood facilities in this state, along with a Planned Parenthood program that attempts to educate parents on teaching their own kids about sexuality. This program is called "Real Life. Real Talk." It includes workshops for parents, and house parties to discuss Planned Parenthood’s philosophies and how to push sex onto our young children. "Real Life. Real Talk." is also supported by Portland, Maine's public schools. For more information on this program, visit https://www.all.org/article.php?id=11154.
While I was there, conveying the message of how to defeat Planned Parenthood, I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Hein of the Christian Civic League of Maine, JoAn Karkos, Lisa St. Jean and Dean Scontras, who were all honored for the hard work they have been doing in Maine to promote the culture of life. I would like to thank the Pro-Life Education Association for inviting me to speak at its Awards Brunch and especially the Truman family for their hospitality. May God continue to bless all of their efforts to spread the message of life and defeat Planned Parenthood.
Philippines facing a two-child bill
The International Planned Parenthood Federation and the UN are backing legislation that would restrict Filipinos to two children per family and punish anyone who objects. The policy, titled "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development, and for Other Purposes," calls for up to six months of imprisonment and heavy fines for anyone who openly challenges the law and tries to inform others of the dangers of contraception and abortion. Eileen Macapanas Cosby, president of the Filipino Family Fund, explained, "International Planned Parenthood has sold false presuppositions that access to contraception will alleviate poverty and decrease the number of abortions. Many who do not have an understanding of Catholic social teachings have bought this. Precisely because the country is Catholic, [Planned Parenthood] has targeted the Philippines."
American Life League is appalled by this proposed legislation. The Philippines is now threatened by legislation that could enact a policy very similar to China’s one-child policy and would result in the deaths of many children through abortion and contraception. This bill must not be signed into law. Please pray that Filipino families will be protected from anti-life, anti-family bills such as this one.
Wednesday STOPP Report - September 17, 2008
Planned Parenthood now offering webcam abortions in Iowa
The Iowa Right to Life Committee broke a shocking story this week when it revealed that Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa is now offering RU-486 abortions by webcam. According to IRLC, patients are no longer required to have an appointment or see a doctor in person in order to undergo this gruesome procedure. Instead, patients are apparently walking into some Iowa Planned Parenthood centers and receiving their medical abortions, with an abortionist available for advice via webcam. IRLC also stated that Planned Parenthood is violating the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's protocol for RU-486. According to the FDA,
The approved Mifeprex regimen for a medical abortion through 49 day's pregnancy is:
· Day One: Mifeprex Administration: 3 tablets of 200 mg of Mifeprex orally at once
· Day Three: Misoprostol Administration: 2 tablets of 200 mcg of misoprostol
orally at once
· Day 14: Post-Treatment: The patient must return to confirm that a complete termination has occurred. If not, surgical termination is recommended to manage medical abortion treatment failures.
The FDA's web site also states, "The safety and effectiveness of other Mifeprex dosing regimens [emphasis added], including use of oral misoprostol tablets intravaginally, has not been established by the FDA."
Planned Parenthood is reportedly giving its customers a lower dose of Mifeprex and a higher dose of Misoprostol and provides only two appointments, instead of the FDA-recommended three. In addition, its customers take the Misoprostol at home. All of these changes decrease Planned Parenthood’s costs while its customers follow a regimen whose safety has not been evaluated by the FDA. Now is the time for a public outcry. If PP is allowed to get away with this in Iowa, it will soon offer this same "service" across the country. We encourage all of you to talk with state and local elected officials and get laws passed to outlaw "abortion by remote control."
IPPF's latest 'how-to' distorts the law
In its latest how-to guide, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the world’s largest abortion promoter, is teaching abortion advocates and its affiliates around the world how to bypass and even eliminate restrictions on abortion by bending the truth. In this primer, Access to Safe Abortion: A Tool for Assessing Legal and Other Obstacles, Planned Parenthood claims legal support for abortion "can be found in numerous international treaties and other instruments." Writing for the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, Piero Tozzi states,
None of the enumerated treaties or conventions, which are legally binding on governments that ratify them, mentions the term abortion, however. Treaties are documents negotiated by sovereign states, many of which proscribed abortion at the time of ratification. Where silent on a subject, treaties are intended to leave the domestic laws of ratifying nations unchanged, in accordance with traditional principles of interpretation. IPPF goes so far as to claim that the statement “Every human being has the inherent right to life," found in the United Nations' 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, means that abortion should be allowed.
We at STOPP are not surprised by IPPF's latest attempt to sell sex, lies and death to as many countries as possible, but we never fail to be thoroughly disgusted by its blatantly dishonest tactics.
PP to open new clinic in Florida
Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast, a newly renamed affiliate, plans to open a new clinic in Boca Raton, Florida in December, after its previous facility was closed down in June. PP is also looking to open more centers in the surrounding areas. STOPP is calling on all of our supporters in the southern Florida region to spread the word about the evils of Planned Parenthood and work to keep the clinic from opening. Use the STOPP Map Room to post information about a local protest in your area, and e-mail us at stopp@all.org if you have any information about the exact location of this future Boca Raton facility.
Doctor threatened to leave money to PP in his will
What if your own spouse threatened that, after his death, his estate would go to Planned Parenthood? A Maryland woman named Diane Ivins is facing this exact scenario. Her deceased husband, Dr. Bruce E. Ivins, has managed to cause plenty of controversy, even from his grave. Tragically, Dr. Ivins committed suicide in July of this year, shortly before the FBI indicted him for mailing anthrax-contaminated letters that killed five people in 2001. Dr. Ivins stated in his will that he wanted to have his remains cremated and his ashes scattered. He worried that his family would not abide by his wishes, so he included an ultimatum: If his remains were not cremated and his ashes not scattered, $50,000 of his estate was to be donated to America's largest abortion chain , Planned Parenthood, an organization his wife has long opposed. Diane Ivins has been a faithful Catholic and has worked for the pro-life cause for many years. She was once the president of Frederick County Right to Life in Maryland. She would prefer to bury her husband’s ashes and is currently fighting in court so that she can do that and not have to give money to PP. Please pray for Ms. Ivins' success in this legal battle.
YouTube goes on a censorship rampage
Several weeks ago, STOPP informed our readers about YouTube’s baseless censorship of anti-Planned Parenthood videos. Now, amidst controversy, negative publicity and strong criticism for banning four of Live Action's videos, YouTube has banned a fifth video. What was the reasoning behind the banning of this video? YouTube claimed, in an e-mail to Live Action, that there was “an alleged privacy violation." What’s more is that this all comes a day after Eyeblast.TV contacted Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt, and asked why the first four videos were banned. Schmidt’s reply, according to UCLA student Lila Rose, who masterminded the investigation of PP's racism, was “I don’t know the details, but I’ll certainly look into it.”
Rose responded to the latest YouTube censorship by saying, "YouTube's discrimination is outrageous. Rather than respond to our concerns about the censorship, YouTube is confirming its Orwellian conduct and silencing the voices of investigative reporters." STOPP is once again asking our readers to join the effort to restore these videos on YouTube. Please write an e-mail, send a letter or make a phone call to YouTube to demand that all of these videos are put online again and that YouTube stop silencing the pro-life message.
Correction
In last week’s WSR, we featured a list of Planned Parenthood mega-clinics (those over 20,000 square feet). In the list, we indicated that the clinic in Sarasota, Florida was in the planning stages. This is not correct. Activists from Sarasota report the clinic is under construction and the final size will be 23,515 square feet. We apologize for the error.
Dubuque Right to Life is holding Anti-PP rally
Steven Brody of Dubuque Right to Life sent an e-mail announcing that the Dubuque, Iowa community is fighting back against Planned Parenthood and will hold a rally. Below is the rally flyer:
EDUCATIONAL RALLY – THE TRUTH ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD
Who: Dubuque County Right to Life, Inc.
What: Educational Rally – The Truth About Planned Parenthood
Where: Grand River Center, Salon D, 500 Bell Street, Dubuque, IA
When: Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 1:00pm Central Time
Why: Doug Scott, President of Life Decisions International, and author of “Bad
Choices: A Look inside Planned Parenthood,” will keynote an educational rally to inform the public about Planned Parenthood. The public is invited to come to this free event with questions and to get the answers on why Planned Parenthood is BAD for Dubuque and also to learn the depth of its operations and agenda. If you are in the Dubuque area, please spread the word, try to attend this rally and protest Planned Parenthood’s newest clinic. STOPP applauds Steven Brody and all of the Dubuque Country Right to Life members for their dedication and hard work. May God bless them and help them to keep fighting!
Planned Parenthood abortionist sends another woman to the hospital
Dr. C.J. LaBenz, who has been committing abortions at the Planned Parenthood facility in Lincoln, Nebraska since April of this year, was apparently involved in a botched abortion at the facility last Thursday.
According to an Operation Rescue press release, at approximately 10:45 a.m. on September 4, a pro-lifer saw a woman placed in an ambulance outside of a PP center. The victim was then taken to Bryan LGH East Medical Center, and "abortionist C.J. LaBenz followed the ambulance to the hospital." Prior to working for PP, LaBenz reportedly was involved in a number of serious incidents. In 1979, he was charged with unlawful abortion and criminal negligence. During a saline abortion procedure, one of his clients gave birth to a child weighing two and a half pounds. Shortly after the child was born, LaBenz told a nurse to place the child on a sink drain board. The nurse stated that the child was left to die in what she described as a "dirty utility room." The child lived for two hours before complete neglect led to the child's death. In June of 2002, LaBenz drove onto the grass outside of his abortion mill and struck a pro-life picketer, knocking her to the ground. When PP tells people in your community about its "trusted" medical personnel, let them know about PP abortionists such as LaBenz.
Planned Parenthood of Dubuque tries futile intimidation tactic
Planned Parenthood hates to have dedicated pro-lifers outside of its facilities. PP knows that the presence of peaceful, prayerful witnessing makes the community more aware of its nefarious activities, lowers its workers' morale and discourages young teens from coming to its centers, because they fear someone might recognize them and tell their parents. In many communities across the country, PP has tried to intimidate pro-lifers by conducting a "pledge-a-picket" campaign. PP recently opened a new facility in Dubuque, Iowa and has begun such a campaign there. The problem for PP is that these tactics simply do not work. Although the campaigns raise a small amount of money for PP, committed pro-lifers are not deterred. They continue to protest and PP continues to be frustrated by their presence.
Several years ago, when PP started such a campaign in Birmingham, Alabama, a local food bank program run by pro-lifers countered PP's move. They promptly announced that picketing at PP would be counted towards the community service hours needed to earn food. As a result, picketing increased. We know that this campaign will not discourage Dubuque's pro-lifers, and we encourage people all across the country to increase their presence in front of PP. To find out where there is a regular presence near you, just go to www.all.org/stopp/maps. If there is no protest near you, that web site will help you start one.
Is condom 'artwork' now part of 'comprehensive sex ed'?
Planned Parenthood promoted its new facility in Binghamton, New York by displaying "artwork" at its open house last Friday. The "artwork" at its new location consisted of several articles of clothing made of condoms or condom wrappers. One such article was a prom dress made from condoms. Its creator, Yvonne Benjamin, said, "So when that's in the exhibit, it's going to be on the back seat of a car because that's where you would expect that age group to be active." Great way to promote sexual responsibility!
Benjamin also made an evening gown out of condoms, for display with a bed, "Because that sect [sic] of people would probably be a little bit older and a little bit wiser but still using some sort of protection for maybe children." Is this part of what PP refers to as "comprehensive sex education"? Making jokes about sex? Is creating purses and dresses from condoms an effective way to teach children to respect each other's sexual dignity? PP is pushing sexual, immoral lifestyles onto our children and calling it "sex education." What children really need is support and encouragement from parents and loved ones on the topic of chastity. PP received over $330 million in tax dollars last year. Sign the petition and help eliminate PP's sex education programs.
Planned Parenthood "granted license to lie"
STOPP reported two weeks ago that Eric Scheidler was attempting to sue Planned Parenthood for libel and that his case was going before a judge to determine if he did, in fact, have a case against PP. Last week, based on a law unique to Illinois, Kane County Judge Judith Brawka turned in a nine-page ruling in which she dismissed Scheidler's and the Pro-life Action League's lawsuit. Attorney Tom Brejcha, attorney for Eric Scheidler, commented, "Lies are now beyond legal accountability, so long as there is some government appeal pending. There's absolutely no accountability." Eric Scheidler added, "Planned Parenthood has been granted a license to lie." The judge did allow Scheidler to file three other libel counts, which will be the subject of further court action.
STOPP lists all Planned Parenthood mega-clinics
STOPP has been updating its readers on all of the mega-clinics that Planned Parenthood has been opening and plans to open around the country. Now we bring you a list of all such PP facilities:
- Houston, Texas – 78,000 square feet (under construction)
- Denver, Colorado – 50,000 square feet (open)
- Portland, Oregon – 40,000 square feet (in planning stage)
- Worcester, Massachusetts – 33,000 square feet (in planning stage)
- Seattle, Washington – 31,500 square feet (open)
- Sarasota, Florida – 23,000 square feet (in planning stage)
- Aurora, Illinois – 22,000 square feet (open)
Please use this list to organize protests, inform friends in these areas and encourage them to protest these mega-clinics. Planned Parenthood is moving towards larger facilities and attempting to increase its revenue by offering more services. The only way to stop this is to fight back against America's largest abortion provider.
STOPP staffer appears on ABC News Now!
Last Thursday, September 4, STOPP's very own Marie Hahnenberg, a researcher, made her national television debut, to debate David Greenberg, the CEO of Planned Parenthood's Columbia Willamette affiliate. The debate, hosted by ABC News Now, centered on whether PP's sex education programs are effective and PPCW's new, highly offensive teen-targeted web site, "Take care down there." Marie stressed that the only sure way to avoid an unintended pregnancy and getting an STD is living a chaste life and teaching our children to abstain from sex outside of marriage. STOPP is very proud of Marie and encourages all of our readers to watch the first and second parts of the video posted on YouTube. Congratulations to Marie for doing an excellent job of supporting the culture of life and fighting Planned Parenthood!
Pro-Life Memorial Day approaching!
Pro-Life Memorial Day, October 6, is quickly approaching, and STOPP is asking you to help spread the word and get as many people involved as possible. For this year's event, American Life League hopes to reach as many pro-lifers as possible and is offering a new item: the Pro-Life Memorial Day armband . The armbands are an easy and effective way to spread the message that over 49 million children have been murdered by surgical abortions since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. The event web site, www.prolifememorialday.com , features many new functions and tools, and is loaded with fresh ideas. It also has a great new look and displays this year's PLMD T-shirt design and the new PLMD armband. You can use this site to submit your PLMD story, pledge to participate, educate yourself on what this day signifies or make a donation. How you decide to participate in this day is not what matters; what matters is that you participate in any way that you can. Please spread the word about Pro-Life Memorial Day and get everyone you know involved. All shirts and armbands must be ordered by September 22 to ensure delivery by October 6.
Massachusetts judge upholds anti-protester law
U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro recently upheld a 2007 Massachusetts law, signed by Governor Deval Patrick, requiring that all pro-life protesters must maintain a distance of 35 feet from any abortion mill. Tauro claims that this law does not violate First Amendment rights, or guarantees of equal protection or due process.
Obviously, this law could undermine the effectiveness of sidewalk counselors and protesters outside of the clinics, since it imposes the largest buffer zone now in effect in the U.S. This, in turn, could obviously benefit the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Please pray for our government leaders and for all those who continue to fight Planned Parenthood in Massachusetts. May their words be heard so that they can save the lives of the preborn and help their mothers avoid being hurt by abortion.
YouTube has yet again demonstrated that they are looking out for Planned Parenthood. As you may remember, several months ago, American Life League informed its readers that YouTube had banned its ALL Report exposing Planned Parenthood's horrible ad campaign. The video was later placed back online after ALL publicized this injustice and called for the video to be reinstated. Now the same thing is happening to Live Action, a pro-life student organization that made recent news with its videos of recorded conversations of PP employees taking donations specifically designated for abortions committed on African-American babies. Live Action has had four videos removed from YouTube over a two-week period.
YouTube gave Live Action the same reason it gave to ALL received: The videos were removed due to inappropriate content. However, YouTube is not known for being discriminatory towards other videos that are truly inappropriate. There is content on YouTube that is practically pornographic, and PP has commercials that would fall into this category. Is YouTube looking out for Planned Parenthood? "These four videos have received over 160,000 YouTube views in total, with the oldest video having been public on YouTube for over seven months. Why are these videos being removed now?" asks David Schmidt, Live Action's media director. Live Action's president, Lila Rose, said, "It is discriminatory for YouTube to selectively censor material that clearly does not contain inappropriate content. We will continue to apply pressure on YouTube until it restores the videos."
Send e-mails to YouTube to let them know that this is wrong and that they need to allow these videos to be available.
Appeal of Aurora clinic dismissed … again
The Planned Parenthood mega-clinic in Aurora, Illinois was the center of media attention for some time, and STOPP made sure to bring the story to our readers. The most recent attempt to close the killing center and remove Planned Parenthood from Aurora is the second time such an effort has failed. According to the Beacon News, "Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood filed the appeal in July, after the city issued a final certificate of occupancy to the clinic on July 1. Prior to that, the facility had operated under a temporary certificate issued in October of last year." Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood has been working hard to kick Planned Parenthood out of the area and is using every option available to do so. Its latest attempt challenged the permanent occupancy permit granted to PP. City attorney Alayne Weingartz claims that Aurora's Zoning Board of Appeals dismissed the case for "lack of jurisdiction."
"In January, the board dismissed a similar appeal of the temporary certificate from the same appellants, and on the same grounds," the Beacon News continued. "The new appeal [filed in July]… simply [reiterated] the case opponents made earlier, that Planned Parenthood violated several conditions in the zoning code, and needed to obtain a special-use permit to operate a not-for-profit medical clinic in a business boulevard zoning district." Nonetheless, PP has been welcomed by the government into the town, even though it has entered it under false pretenses. Since the second appeal was denied, a third appeal has been filed with the city's building code board of appeals. Weingartz conceded this is the proper venue for challenging PP's final certificate of occupancy, but nonetheless "argues that even this board's jurisdiction is limited." Please pray for the citizens of Aurora. Pray that the appeal is granted, and that Planned Parenthood is forced to move out of Aurora for good.
Last week, we received a letter from Fort Worth, Texas group that has been a long-time STOPP supporter and very active in its fight against Planned Parenthood. Here it is:
Dear Marie, here is the info about what we do at the PP mill in Ft. Worth TX. They started doing surgical abortions at this site in June of 1996. We started our protest under the aegis of Catholics United for Life of North Texas several months before they started their killing in June. We did a daily month long protest during the last thirty days before they began their killing at the site that they use. We took out a full page signature ad featuring the Catholic and Episcopal bishops of Fort Worth along with a multitude of other prominent local clergy and lay people. There were several hundred names in the ad.
They began killing only on Thursdays, but have expanded to both Thursday and Friday and alternate Saturdays. Their abortionist, Neal Pock D.O., is retired from private practice and drives in from Tyler Texas (about 3½ [hour] drive) on Thursday mornings and stays over to do his dirty work on the other days. He is almost 73 years old. We have had sidewalk counselors and prayer partners there every day they are killing. When our new bishop, the Most Reverend Kevin Vann, came three years ago, he started Celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 6:20 A. M. every Friday morning he is in town at the Mother & Unborn Baby Care pregnancy center, two blocks from the PP mill and then proceeding to the PP center to pray the rosary with us while we sidewalk counsel, HE SAYS MASS AND PRAYS EVERY FRIDAY MORNING - I think he is the only bishop in the country that dedicates that kind of time to pro-life activism!
His Masses and presence at the abortion center give us great encouragement and we have started to see a lot more results since he started coming every Friday over the past three years. We have even been able to send sidewalk counselors over to help Counsel at abortion centers in our neighboring city of Dallas every week.
We probably average 15 people praying and counseling at the PP abortion center every day that they do abortions. Thanks for your continuing efforts in fighting the evil web cast by the PP monster.
In Christ's Name for Life,
Chuck Pelletier, President
Catholics United for Life of North Texas
Thank you, Chuck, for your update. If you have a similar story or want to let us know what is going on, please send us a letter or let us know by sending us an e-mail.
Congratulations, you are five for five!
Over the last few months, we have asked you to take action on five urgent matters. These include the following:
- Contacting Habitat for Humanity in Sarasota, Florida, to ask them to withdraw from an agreement to buy property from Planned Parenthood.
- Contacting a Wal-Mart in Washington state, to ask them to prevent Planned Parenthood from distributing literature in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
- Contacting the Greater Vallejo Recreation District in California, to ask them not to allow Planned Parenthood to participate in this children's event at the Children's Wonderland playground in Vallejo.
- Contacting the city of Portland, Oregon, to ask them not to sell Planned Parenthood land for an abortuary, which they were scheduled to do on August 23.
- Contacting the city administration and library in Lewiston, Maine to ask them not to put grandmother JoAn Karkos in jail for removing the book It's Perfectly Normal from the library and refusing to return it.
We are extremely pleased to report that all of these situations have had happy endings. Planned Parenthood was stopped in Florida, Washington and California. In Oregon, the land sale was delayed for 60 days. In your latest victory, JoAn Karkos, the 64-year-old grandmother who refused to return the pornographic children's book, It's Perfectly Normal, will not go to jail and will not have to return the copy of the Planned Parenthood-backed book she took from the Lewiston, Maine library. Judge Valerie Stanfill and the Lewiston library had reportedly received so many calls from STOPP supporters, they had to start accepting calls from county taxpayers only.
After the media and grassroots barrage, the city administrator, Jim Bennett, said Mrs. Karkos would no longer be threatened with going to jail and could keep the book. According to the Lewiston Sun Journal, "Bennett... said that proceeding with that kind of legal action would have accomplished nothing. Putting the matter to rest, he said, is in the best interest of the city. It saves money that would need to be spent to pursue the case in court, he said, and will keep Lewiston from becoming the epicenter of the debate over decency in publications."[emphasis added] We thank Mrs. Karkos for her brave stand on behalf of keeping It's Perfectly Normal out of the hands of children. We also thank the STOPP supporters who stood with Mrs. Karkos and demanded accountability from all those who would expose children to the filth propagated by Planned Parenthood. And, of course, we praise God for this victory. May God bless you all for responding so quickly to our calls for action. Know that you DO make a difference!