In this issue:
- Planned Parenthood mocks Christmas; greeting card proclaims 'Choice on Earth'
- Planned Parenthood expands attack on Christianity with new line of 'Choice on Earth' T-shirts
- Planned Parenthood's plan to pay teens to recruit clients with tax dollars
- Planned Parenthood now part of Waco library system
- Parental consent needed for Planned Parenthood poster contest
- Some suggestions for a pro-life wish list for new Congress
- What is in the new artwork on STOPP's website
- STOPP applauds Bush administration position on Cairo document
- Project Mustard Seed; de-funding Planned Parenthood
- Countering Planned Parenthood fund raising events
- Pickets at Planned Parenthood facilities
Planned Parenthood mocks Christmas; greeting card proclaims 'choice on earth'
In its never-ending effort to promote the gospel of 'choice,' Planned Parenthood has chosen to mock the Christian faith by issuing a holiday card with the message, "Choice on Earth." Planned Parenthood likes to portray itself as a tolerant organization constantly searching for diversity. But this blatant attack on Christian values -- and Christ Himself -- is just another demonstration of the truly bigoted nature of Planned Parenthood.
The new Planned Parenthood line of holiday cards includes "Choice on Earth" on each card. One card also adds, "Warmest wishes for a peaceful holiday season." By replacing 'peace' with 'choice,' Planned Parenthood is essentially saying "abortion on earth." This is an extremely repugnant message to be spreading during the Christmas season. Planned Parenthood has insulted Christians and Christianity by deforming a common Christmas slogan, "Peace on Earth", that refers to the Peace of Christ.
When Mother Theresa of Calcutta accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 she said, "the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion." Planned Parenthood, by its selection of the word "choice" for use on these cards has shown that it does not want a world at peace, it wants a world filled with the "choice" of abortion.
In Planned Parenthood's world there will be no children to celebrate the birth of the Christ child on December 25. There will, instead, be graves and empty playgrounds. The time has come for Americans to reject this hateful organization. What more proof do we need of its unacceptable moral principles? That Planned Parenthood could be supported by even one person in America after this blatant attack on Christianity is beyond belief.
Planned Parenthood expands attack on Christianity
with new line of 'Choice on Earth' T-shirts
"It is an outrage that Planned Parenthood is expanding its anti-Christian 'Choice on Earth' Christmas card campaign to include ‘Choice on Earth’ T-shirts for sale during the Christmas season," said Jim Sedlak, founder of STOPP International (a project of American Life League).
"Instead of apologizing to Christians for distorting a scripture verse referring to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, Planned Parenthood president Gloria Feldt has decided to use this offensive message to sell merchandise," Sedlak said.
Sedlak had previously pointed out that Planned Parenthood’s Christmas message essentially says "abortion on earth," setting off a wave of criticism against Planned Parenthood nationwide. In a press release today announcing the "Choice on Earth" T-shirt line, Feldt attacked STOPP by name, claiming it "serves no redeeming purpose."
"This T-shirt is the last straw!" said Sedlak. "When the new Congress convenes next year it needs to take action immediately to defund this anti-Christian organization." In 2001, Planned Parenthood received $202.7 million -- 30 percent of its income -- from government sources.
Planned Parenthood has been dodging debates with STOPP for 17 years.
Also see:
Planned Parenthood's plan to pay teens to recruit clients with tax dollars
Planned Parenthood has concocted one of its most shameless schemes ever for using our tax dollars to corrupt our children. Planned Parenthood of North Central Ohio has proposed that two teens from each of the four high schools in Morrow County, Ohio be paid $100 to be trained as outreach workers and that the teens receive an additional $5 for every patient they recruit who shows up at a new Planned Parenthood clinic which opened on April 2, 2002 in Cardington, Ohio.
Local pro-lifers sent STOPP International a copy of a signed agreement between Morrow County Job and Family Services and Planned Parenthood as well as a copy of the Planned Parenthood application for a “Wellness Program” grant. The grant is for $5,145. The stated “desired outcome” on the Planned Parenthood application is to “maximize the number of teens who practice birth control.”
The project narrative states that input from Planned Parenthood's local advisory committee resulted in no printed advertising or public relations being done to announce the opening of the new clinic. "This was done in order to not create or stir controversy..." Obviously, Planned Parenthood knows that many people will actively oppose its presence in their community. Planned Parenthood said it, "... quietly distributed referral cards, agency brochures, and fliers to area schools, guidance counselors, social service agencies and physicians..."
Once the clinic was opened, Planned Parenthood became a little bolder in advertising the clinic in public and also concocted the scheme to use paid teenagers to take advantage of "word of mouth" advertising. In the project narrative, these teen "outreach workers" are described as "informed educators" about Planned Parenthood's services. The Planned Parenthood application checked off three of ten possible strategies to achieve the goal of its proposal. Conspicuously unchecked were "Abstinence programs," and "Activities to promote parent-child communication about responsible sexuality and/or parenthood."
It is clear that this Planned Parenthood scheme is aimed at getting kids hooked on sex and contraception without parental involvement. These kids, of course, will become a source of income for Planned Parenthood as contraception and/or abortion customers. This cunning scheme provides another benefit to Planned Parenthood. If parents complain to school officials or board members about the Planned Parenthood program, there is not much any of them can do to stop it. Since the teen outreach workers will be using "word of mouth" private conversations to recruit new Planned Parenthood clients, this scheme is even better, for Planned Parenthood's purposes, then are formal sex-ed classes. Such classes can be successfully challenged and ended by irate parents. How can they stop the Planned Parenthood teen recruiters that infiltrate the schools?
This scheme gets even more outrageous when you consider its funding source. STOPP contacted the treasurer of the Morrow County Wellness Program Committee and was told that grant funding is from the federal/state Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program via the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Our tax dollars are funding this despicable Planned Parenthood scheme! Wouldn't this tax money be better spent by providing needy families with food, clothing or shelter?
Action Item: People across the country need to contact Congress immediately to demand that the TANF program be amended so that none of its money may be allotted for birth control programs. This is a perfect opportunity for the new Republican controlled Congress to do something pro-life and pro-family. If Congress doesn't act to amend the TANF program, Planned Parenthood can abuse it to force taxpayers to pay teens to recruit other teens to become Planned Parenthood customers. These new teen customers will then be subjected to Planned Parenthood’s promotion of fornication, intrinsically-evil contraception and abortion.
Planned Parenthood now part of Waco library system
Waco Right to Life sent STOPP a copy of a signed contract between Planned Parenthood and the City of Waco, TX which states, in part:
Planned Parenthood will become a satellite library of the Waco-McLennan County Library. Planned Parenthood will allow all citizens of Texas to use its materials through the Waco-McLennan County Public Library at no cost to City.
Planned Parenthood is responsible for payment of all start-up costs and maintenance fees for software and hardware. Planned Parenthood is responsible for all T1 telephone charges for the connection to the library server.
Planned Parenthood will pay the City for cataloging and processing the library items in accordance with the fee schedule attached…
City will provide cataloging and processing services for Planned Parenthood’s library items in accordance with the fee schedule attached…
City will pick up and deliver library materials at Planned Parenthood’s location at least once a week.
City Manager Kathy Rice signed the contract. One city official was pointed out that the arrangement is not costing the citizens of Waco. Of course, Planned Parenthood is willing to pay for this arrangement because it is a great way to advertise its evil philosophies and get some undeserved credibility. The only good thing about the contract is that either party, via a 30-day written notice, can terminate it. STOPP has recommended that local pro-lifers make this an issue with their elected city officials. If they refuse to end this deplorable arrangement with the nation’s largest abortion chain they should be voted out of office in the next election!
For more information about this matter read the article from CNSNEWS.
Not only will the Planned Parenthood branch of the Waco library provide pro-abortion and pro-homosexual materials, but it also warned that it can deny access to anyone who has participated in protests against Planned Parenthood. So much for the contract clause that says Planned Parenthood “will allow all citizens of Texas to use its materials…”
Parental consent needed for PP poster contest
Planned Parenthood has announced a “Roe at 30 Artwork and Poster Contest” that “celebrates 30 years of choice." Part of the terms and conditions to enter the contest include a completed parental permission form for any contestant under the age of 18. Doesn’t it seem strange that an organization that fights against any type of parental involvement requirement for a serious operation such as abortion would require kids to get parental permission before they enter a simple poster contest? And, by the way, where is the “judicial bypass” option for the kid whose parents refuse to give permission? Ellyn von Huben wrote to STOPP and suggested that pro-lifers deluge the contest with posters with pro-life messages. Just don’t plan on winning the $800 prize, and, if you’re under 18, be sure you get a parent to sign the permission from!
Some suggestions for a pro-life wish list for new Congress
As pro-lifers prepare wish lists for the new Congress they should consider resurrecting some previously defeated proposals. Planned Parenthood’s voter guide for the November 2002 election is worth reviewing, for it contains at least three measures that fall in that category.
First, Planned Parenthood listed a 8/2/95 vote that reversed a House appropriations committee’s decision to eliminate the domestic population control program known as Title X. Planned Parenthood currently gets about $61 million a year from this one program alone. The vote was close, 224 to 204, but in favor of keeping Title X (roll call 615 on Greenwood Amendment to HR 2127). It is time for pro-lifers to demand that the new Republican controlled Congress eliminate this awful program. It provides intrinsically evil contraception, some of which acts by sometimes preventing living human beings (embryos) from implanting in the womb, thus killing them.
On the international front, Planned Parenthood was against a 3/14/96 effort in the Senate which PP said would have reduced international family planning [contraceptives] funding by 85 percent. The McConnell Amendment to HR 3019 went down to defeat by a vote of 43 to 52 with 5 senators not voting (roll call 35). The time has come to try a similar amendment to the current foreign appropriations bill and President Bush should be leading the way. However, all international family planning funding needs to be removed, not just 85 percent of it.
Finally, Planned Parenthood listed a 10/8/98 vote which would have required parental notification for teenagers to receive birth control at federally funded clinics (Title X). The Istook Amendment to HR 4274 actually passed the House by a vote of 224 to 200 (roll call 504) but apparently faltered elsewhere in the legislative process. Very similar legislation is now being proposed by Congressman Todd Akin. Obviously, if the Title X program were completely eliminated, such a measure would be moot, but as long as Title X exists there should, at least, be parental notification.
For more information about Akin's proposal, and a proposal by Congressman David Vitter that would prevent abortion providers from getting Title X funds, see the October 2002 issue of the Ryan Report. See also the second article above, which indicates that Conress needs to remove the birth control component from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program as well.
What is in the new artwork on STOPP's web site
STOPP International has placed new artwork on its web page. This new artwork will serve as a graphical representation of what we are all about. We believe this simple picture truly tells the story of STOPP.
First, of course, there is the name. Our name was specifically selected to bring to mind the idea of halting or "bringing to an end" a specific activity – in this case the activity of the organization known as Planned Parenthood.
Then, there is the representation of the letter "T" as a cross. This symbolizes the fact that we do all our work for the greater glory and honor of Jesus Christ. It is only by proclaiming His word that we can ever hope to achieve our primary goal.
Emanating from the cross are the rays of God’s truth and God’s love. By proclaiming Jesus and by declaring our allegiance to the Father, we wish to show that our task will include calling Planned Parenthood into the light so that its nefarious activities will be visible to all.
Finally there are the "shrinking Ps" demonstrating that Planned Parenthood (Pp) will have no choice but to shrink from the rays of the cross. As long as we follow Christ’s instructions in the Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 10) on how to spread His word, the Planned Parenthood organization will diminish in stature and in influence and will eventually become a non-entity in the life of the world.
It is our hope that this artwork will help inspire many to fight against Planned Parenthood. Please visit our homepage and tell us what you think. Thanks.
STOPP Applauds Bush Administration Position on Cairo Document
"This would be a severe blow to Planned Parenthood and the political gains it made during the Clinton administration," said Jim Sedlak, Executive Director of STOPP International, a division of American Life League.
Sedlak was reacting to reports that, during a population and development conference in Bangkok recently, the American delegation announced that Washington would not reaffirm its support for the Cairo "program of action" unless the terms "reproductive health services" and "reproductive rights" were changed or removed from the document.
"These words have always been code names for abortion," said Sedlak "and never should have been part of the document. Planned Parenthood fought hard to get them included and is so enthralled with the current document that it made adherence to and funding of the Cairo document one of its 10 major goals for the next 25 years."
"If the Bush administration follows through," Sedlak concluded, "It would be a major setback to Planned Parenthood's plans to get abortion legalized all over the world. We applaud its stated intention and encourage all Americans to express their individual support for this initiative."
Project Mustard Seed: de-funding Planned Parenthood
STOPP supporter Maureen Naylor sent in information about Project Mustard Seed, an organized letter writing campaign directed at corporations which fund Planned Parenthood. Once a month, participants will receive a post card with a company’s name, address, and person to contact. Participants are asked to write a letter expressing opposition to the company’s funding of Planned Parenthood and to send it on or near the tenth of the month in an effort to overwhelm the recipient with a flood of letters at the same time.
Project Mustard Seed gets its information about corporate supporters from Life Decisions International. If you are interested in joining this project contact the founder, David Arms, at PO Box 1951, S. San Francisco, CA 94083 or contact him by e-mail.
Countering Planned Parenthood fund raising events
On November 3, STOPP’s national director, Ed Szymkowiak, joined members of Life and Liberty Ministries as they protested outside of a fund raising banquet for The Virginia League for Planned Parenthood at the Omni Hotel in Richmond Virginia. Banquet attendees entering the hotel were confronted with the truth regarding abortion and PP. Literature was distributed that exposed the many lies spread by this evil organization.
Unfortunately, such fund raising events are a common occurrence around the country. In recent weeks STOPP has received word that pro-lifers in Walla Walla, WA, Houghton, MI, Grosse Pointe, MI and Bryan, Texas were involved in opposing such fund raising.
In Bryan, the Coalition for Life posted the names of businesses supporting Planned Parenthood on a web site. The site includes examples of local media coverage and extensive documentation of the campaign. As a result of the Coalition’s efforts so far, two businesses confirmed that they completely withdrew their support from Planned Parenthood event in October and three other businesses have committed to not support Planned Parenthood again in the future.
In Walla Walla, pro-lifers took to the airwaves to get the message out against a $100-a-plate dinner and auction fund raising event for Planned Parenthood sponsored by local wineries in November. Rod Fazzari of KHSS 100.7 FM / KGDC 1320 AM contacted STOPP for suggestions and put together an excellent radio ad. The ad can be downloaded in mp3 format. Rod told STOPP, “Please feel free to share with whomever you wish. Also, if we can ever make ads for you guys to use on other stations in other markets, just let us know. We'll help you as much as we can.” STOPP supporters wishing to take Rod up on the offer can contact him by e-mail.
For tips on writing to businesses that support Planned Parenthood, see the sixth article in the January 2001 issue of the Ryan Report.
Pickets at Planned Parenthood facilities
Action Item: STOPP is leading an active campaign, on behalf of American Life League, to close down every PP facility in the country. One of the things we want to do is create a web page that will list every picket or other demonstration against Planned Parenthood all across the country. We asking all the people receiving this Ryan Report to please let STOPP know of any regularly occurring or one-time demonstrations against Planned Parenthood of which you are aware. By the beginning of the new year, we should have the web page in place and will post all the information you give us.
The format of the listing will be:
Date ... State .... City/Town .... Time .... Local contact (first name) .... e-mail or phone.
Please send the information to us by e-mail. Thanks.
