WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - On Friday, February 18, 2011 the U.S. House of Representatives, by a margin of 240-185, voted to cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood. The vote did not proceed along strict party lines. The vote did however reveal those members who have a conscience and care about what the American people truly want and those who do not.
Those who voted to cut off tax dollars to this organization are to be commended. That included 11 Democrats. Those who voted against this legislation, including 7 Republicans, ought to be publicly exposed. The one who voted "present" may be the worst offender. We will find out the names of the members in each category and inform our readers. The champion of this legislation was Rep. Mike Pence, who said after the historic vote:
"This afternoon's vote is a victory for taxpayers and a victory for life. By banning federal funding to Planned Parenthood, Congress has taken a stand for millions of Americans who believe their tax dollars should not be used to subsidize the largest abortion provider in America. I commend my colleagues in both parties for taking a stand for taxpayers and a stand for life. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to support this legislation and end federal funding of Planned Parenthood once and for all."
We commend Congressman Pence and others, like Pro-Life Champion Congressman Chris Smith, whose courage and tenacity have led to this important vote. We urge our readers to pray fervently for those in the Senate who will soon be asked to consider this legislation. We also encourage everyone reading this article to continue to make their support of this legislation crystal clear to their own Senators.
In 2009 I examined Planned Parenthood's 2007-2008 Annual Report. As a 501 c3 organization (with an affiliated "Action fund" for its more overtly political efforts) they have to make the report available to the public. I well understand the role and function of such reports having led not for profits groups in the past. It keeps members, supporters and friends aware of the organizations use of their funds and gives the organization the opportunity to self promote.
Planned Parenthood is built on a lie. They dress themselves up as a "Health Care Provider" while they include the taking of the lives of innocent children in the womb as a "service" under their offering of "reproductive services". They have insinuated themselves into the global delivery of "medical services" receiving massive government funding as this report clearly confirms. Included in these "medical services" is the killing of children in the womb.
There is nothing "reproductive" about abortion, it always kills a human person. It is certainly not a service to the child, the mother, the father or society. Nor is it "health care". Funding it is morally repugnant. Extracting tax dollars from all of us to do so is immoral and maddening..
Their 2007 - 2008 Report took their claims to a level of audacity which I had never seen. As a part of their outreach to "clergy" who condone their work, they honored a woman who referred to the killing of children in the womb through surgical strikes and chemical weapons as "Sacred Work" and "Prophetic Work".
They gave her the "Davis Award", named after Reverend Tom Davis, a minister in the United Church of Christ and his wife. Davis wrote a book entitled "Abortion -- Is it Necessary?" in which he contended that the "sacred work of justice," requires that America provide abortions to women. He is the chair of the "Clergy Advisory Board" of Planned Parenthood.
In the early paragraphs of their 2007- 2008 report they claimed "Planned Parenthood is the leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider, with 93 years under our belt. And in the near future, we will play a unique role in helping to shape the health agenda for the new administration." They certainly succeeded in their prediction. The current Administration is has become their greatest ally. However, today's important vote portends a change is in the air.
Thursday evening brought a three hour long, impassioned floor debate over this legislation. The defenders of the indefensible, using our tax dollars to fund the work of Planned Parenthood, used their tired old rhetoric, calling the proponents of the legislation, including women, of waging a "war on women". Fortunately, they failed.
In her recent story written before the vote, Catholic Online's Jennifer Hartline said of Congressman Pence, "Pence is among many pro-life heroes in Congress who are actively pursuing the permanent defunding of Planned Parenthood. He's certainly gotten Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richard's attention with his Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act."
"Between the Pence amendment and the Live Action videos that reveal PP's utter disregard for children's welfare and safety and their disdain for the law, Richards knows that PP's federal gravy train is under serious threat of derailment."
She is referring to Cecile Richards, the President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America who lobbied hard to prevent the passage of this amendment.
Jennifer Hartline continued, "Finally, the political facade is being melted away and many Americans are beginning to see Planned Parenthood for what it truly is; an organization that profits from the destructive sexual activities of minors and adults - and quite possibly criminal sexual activities - and the wanton extermination of babies. And thankfully, many more Americans are asking, "Why should we pay for this?"
"We shouldn't be paying for this. Let the vocal and wealthy celebrities and abortion advocates in the country donate to their pet cause and keep PP operating if they choose, but keep our tax dollars out of it. I choose not to fund PP. I choose to value and protect my neighbor in the womb. I choose life. What about it, Cecile? Aren't you supposed to be pro-choice? Thanks to Pence, Chris Smith of NJ and other unyielding defenders of life, the current Congress is poised to finally defund Planned Parenthood permanently."
Cecile Richards responded after Friday's vote in these words, "The outcome of this vote is not a surprise, but it is radically out of step with mainstream American values and it is out of line with the issues voters want Congress to focus on." No, Ms. Richards, it is your organization which is out of step with mainstream American values and we are determined to stop paying its tab.
Next stop is the US Senate. Representative Pence had a message for his colleagues there, "I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to support this legislation and end federal funding of Planned Parenthood once and for all." We must all help to ensure they get the message loud and clear.
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