Each month we will offer a list of action ideas so you can defend, honor, and celebrate Life in your churches and communities on our Take Action page. This month, we are looking at Planned Parenthood.

“I’m opposed to abortion too, but doesn’t Planned Parenthood also provide valuable health care and services to women who can’t afford it?”

I am sure many of us have had this argument presented to us, in one way or another, when the topic of Planned Parenthood (PP) is brought up, especially when discussing government funding. People who are active in pro-life work recoil at the idea of PP being viewed as anything but a public menace. But this view point is not shared by many. A recent Gallop poll found that 62% of those polled had a favorable view of PP. More startling is that, of those who viewed Planned Parenthood favorably, 52% are people who attend religious services at least once a month and 62% of those same people consider themselves pro-life. While more studies could be done to understand this, the poll does demonstrate that some within the Church are unaware of the evils brought about by abortion and that those who are opposed to abortion do not know what Planned Parenthood is really about!

What people likely don’t know is that PP’s non-abortion services have been dropping steadily for years—prenatal care by 60% and cancer screening by 41% in 2017. Additionally, PP performed approximately 126 abortions (1,628,550) for every adoption referral (12,879) over that same period. Notably, while other services have decreased, abortion rates have remained the same. Additionally, 39 PP clinics have been cited for health and safety deficiency standards in the last 10 years, including failing to provide a safe and sanitary environment, effectively train staff, and monitor patient vital signs. These citations don’t even include the allegations of the illegal sale of the remains of aborted children, uncovered in a series of videos in 2015 by the Center for Medical Progress. Also, there are local community health centers that provide these needed services to women and families. In fact, these centers outnumber Planned Parenthood 20 to 1 nationally.

We who actively advocate for Life sometimes forget that there are those around us who aren’t as aware about the abortion issue and the death and havoc it wreaks—let alone Planned Parenthood’s commitment to it. We must be active in educating ourselves so we can share the truth with others.

Action Ideas

• Host a program in your community about PP and share the facts about their services. Invite questions and answers but require civility and graciousness.
• Find your local community health center and keep their information in your purse or wallet, to share as an alternative to PP.

Resources

• Find A Community Health Center Search
• Unsafe Report
• Family Research Council
• Center for Medical Progress Undercover Videos

Written by AFL Administrator Robin Ferguson