THE RYAN REPORT

Planned Parenthood opposes marriage amendment

Modern day Planned Parenthood is continuing the attack on marriage that was started by its founder, Margaret Sanger. In on of Sanger's first publications The Woman Rebel. No Gods No Masters (March 1914), Sanger wrote: "Marriage laws abrogate the freedom of woman by enforcing upon her a continuous sexual slavery and a compulsory motherhood." She advocated for the complete dissolution of marriage, campaigning instead for simple personal relationships.

On July 7, 2004, the Planned Parenthood Action Network sent out an email message to its supporters urging them to take action against the proposed marriage amendment. Here are some excerpts.

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) as early Monday, July 12. To show our deep opposition to the FMA, we are calling on all of our activists to take action now and to participate in our new Flags Across America campaign.

While this constitutional amendment purports to define marriage as being between a man and a woman, it is really much more. The FMA is an effort to undermine the right to privacy in our nation's most sacred document, the Constitution.

Please join our campaign to stop this amendment by downloading a rainbow flag from our Web site and posting it in your window, on your car, in your office, or wherever you think it appropriate to show your opposition to the FMA and your solidarity with those who would ask the government to respect every American's right to privacy….

Then use the letter below to urge your Senators to "vote no on cloture for the Federal Marriage Amendment."

At Planned Parenthood, we trust individuals to make responsible choices about their lives and their relationships. We strongly oppose efforts to limit the privacy interests of same-gender couples or to limit their civil rights, including the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution of the United States….

Planned Parenthood urged its members to send a letter. Excerpts from the letter follow:

Dear…,

I strongly oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA).

While this constitutional amendment purports to define marriage as being between a man and a woman, it is really much more. The FMA is an effort to undermine the right to privacy in our nation's most sacred document.

In Griswold v. Connecticut, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a state law that criminalized the use of birth control by married couples. The court's decision in this case became the basis for later decisions recognizing privacy rights, including Roe v. Wade, in which the court recognized the right of a woman to make certain fundamental decisions affecting her destiny, including whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. Roe reaffirmed that the Constitution protects individual's decisions about marriage, having and raising children, and basic family relationships and underscores an individual's right to freedom from government interference in the most personal, private decisions. That same right to privacy is the basis of many of the most important legal decisions guaranteeing the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans.

The Planned Parenthood Action Network mailing also had a sidebar to it that included the following:

The Supreme Court reaffirmed these constitutional protections most recently in Lawrence v. Texas, striking down the Texas law making it a crime for individuals of the same sex to engage in certain intimate sexual contact. In reaching its decision in Lawrence, the court relied on Griswold, Eisenstadt, and Roe itself in reaffirming that the Constitution protects individual's decisions about marriage, having and raising children, and basic family relationships.

These cases form a seamless web that underscores an individual's right to freedom from government interference - be they gay or straight - in the most personal, private decisions. We oppose efforts to unravel these protections or to weaken the Constitution's guarantees of equal protection of the law.

The interesting thing about this mailing is that it clearly shows all the bad decisions that have come from the 1965 Griswold decision. Nancy Griswold was head of Planned Parenthood of Connecticut at the time and it was Planned Parenthood that brought you the Supreme Court decision that has been responsible for so much of what is wrong in our society today. The Griswold decision struck down the last laws against contraception. Once contraception was legalized, the door was opened to legalizing abortion and sodomy. Now we are on the brink of redefining the entire institution of marriage, an institution that has served humanity for thousands of years. The above material from Planned Parenthood should make it obvious to anyone that Planned Parenthood is hell bent on following its founder in an anti-Christian crusade that is aimed at the very heart of the institutions and beliefs that Christians hold dear.

PP applauds Kerry for choosing Edwards a running mate

Planned Parenthood released a statement on July 6, 2004 in response to news that presidential candidate Senator John Kerry picked Senator John Edwards as a running mate. Following are excerpts from that statement:

With the selection of John Edwards as his running mate, Sen. Kerry has again shown his complete commitment to reproductive rights and access to reproductive health care," PPAF president Gloria Feldt said … Sen. Edwards has a 100% pro-choice … voting record in the U.S. Senate … As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Edwards has been an influential voice of opposition against President Bush's attacks on women's rights and extremist nominations to the federal bench. During his term Edwards cast pro-choice votes on numerous pieces of legislation relating to reproductive health including:

• Voting for a bill that would have given women in the military serving overseas the same right to access reproductive health care as women here at home;
• Voting against the 2003 federal abortion ban legislation, which was recently ruled unconstitutional because it contained no exception for women's health;
• Voting for the Comprehensive Family Planning Package, a combination of bills that would have increased access to family planning and decreased unintended pregnancies;
• Voting against Attorney General John Ashcroft's confirmation and against anti-choice Bush judicial nominees including Priscilla Owen and Bill Pryor.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed John Kerry for President on April 23, 2004. The announcement marked the first time in the history of … Planned Parenthood Action Fund that it had endorsed a candidate in a Presidential race. For more information on the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood's political programs, go to www.plannedparenthoodvotes.org.

Ryan Report readers should note that Gloria Feldt is simultaneously the president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). As long as Feldt makes political endorsement statements in her capacity as the president of PPAF, she violates no law. If she were to make the same statements in her capacity as president of PPFA, she would violate the law. Sound fishy?

Life Decisions International release new boycott list
(from Life Decisions International)

Life Decisions International (LDI) has released a new BOYCOTT LIST, which identifies corporations that have supported Planned Parenthood. The June 2004 edition is an updated version of the November 2003 BOYCOTT LIST.

Since November 2003, seven corporations have agreed to stop funding Planned Parenthood, bringing the total number to 105. The names of these seven corporations are not included in the revised edition of THE BOYCOTT LIST.

Ten corporations have been added to the new BOYCOTT LIST, including computer software makers Adobe Systems and Symantec … Other corporations added to THE BOYCOTT LIST include publishing giant The Hearst Corporation; office supply store Office Depot Inc.; the maker of shoes, glasses, purses and much more, Kenneth Cole Productions Inc.; gardening specialist Smith & Hawken Ltd.; the Hilton Hotels Corporation.

For more information about the Corporate Funding Project, including an outline of the standards employed when placing a corporation on or removing a corporation from THE BOYCOTT LIST, visit LDI's website at: www.fightpp.org.

Fighting Planned Parenthood with "right of conscience" legislation

The following excerpt is from the March 23, 2004 testimony given by Michael J. O'Dea, of the Christus Medicus Foundation, regarding some Michigan House Bills before the House Health Policy Committee. The issues involve Planned Parenthood and are applicable to other states as well.

The most fundamental freedom that is at issue in our health care culture today is the freedom of an individual to exercise a "conscience choice" in health care. Powerful political interest groups, such as Planned Parenthood (PP), Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), National Organization for Woman (NOW), and National Abortion Rights League (NARL) have intimated and manipulated private employers and policymakers into believing that state and/or federal law should require confidential payment for unhealthy, and costly non health care procedures that are contrary to most Americans moral, ethical and religious convictions. In states, these special interests groups have imposed their agenda to force millions to violate their "right of conscience." Forced cooperation in the funding of abortion, sterilization, contraception for minors without parental consent, domestic (same sex) partners, in-vitro-fertilization, and artificial insemination are on the top of their list.

Here in our own state, MIChild, Michigan Children's Health Plan requires the use of tax payer's dollars to promote and provide contraceptive and abortifacient chemicals and devices to minor children, without parental knowledge or consent. A health care provider that wants access to MIChild funds must agree to provide contraceptives and abortifacients to minors, without parental consent. BCBS of Michigan is now requiring small groups to provide a rider to pay for domestic partner relationships. What will Michigan people be forced to pay for next? Will health premiums require payments for domestic partners, in vitro fertilization, cloning, infanticide, euthanasia, and assisted suicide in all health plans?

It is incredible to think that health plans in Michigan force individuals to use their hard earned money to violate their conscience and to confidentially pay for contraceptive and abortifacient procedures that kill babies, cause infertility and are dangerous to our children's health and welfare.

On March 1, 2004 California Supreme Court ruled that Catholic Charities Health Care Plan must include contraception, for workers even though it is morally opposed to contraception. This is only the beginning of the attack on religious liberty in health care. Not only will the Catholic Church be attacked but so will Evangelical Protestant churches and other faith-based organizations. This judicial tyranny should be a wake up call to all who believe in freedom.

The proponents of abortion and an anything goes lifestyle are demanding their outrageous agenda as part of their civil rights and freedom "to choose." Choice however is only for them. Catholic and other faith based employers are given "no choice." Health care is quickly becoming a major battle for freedom in the war between the "culture of life" and the "culture of death."

During the late sixties many patriotic Americans, including my brother and me, volunteered to put our lives at risk for freedom in Vietnam. I served as an Army intelligence officer and my brother served as a Marine machine gunner. Many of our buddies died for the freedom to exercise our "right of conscience". From the very beginning of this great nation up to and including our present "War on Terror," many men and women have died and continue to die and put their lives at risk to keep us free.

"[O]ur rules can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we never submitted, we could not submit. We are answerable for them to our God." --Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Passing House Bills 5006, 5276, 5277, and 5278, will put Michigan at the cutting edge of: 1) pre-empting judicial tyranny, like happened in California, and 2) set a precedent for protecting Michigan citizens from special interests groups imposing, one size fits all, private and public health plans that violate the "right of conscience" of most Americans.

I applaud you for your efforts here, today. Now is the time for all of us to cry out for freedom and pass legislation that allows the people of Michigan the ability to exercise their "right of conscience" in health care.

Thank God for the greatest nation on earth, a system of government that is dedicated to protect our freedom, and for the legislative leadership we have here today.

STOPP urges supporters to contact Mike for help in introducing similar legislation in your state.

Austin diocese condemns PP's "Nobody's Fool" event

In its June 18, 2004 communication, "The Friday E-pistle," the Catholic diocese of Austin said the following:

The sex education program "Nobody's Fool," organized by Planned Parenthood for pre-adolescents on July 15 in Waco, is considered inadequate and morally inappropriate for Catholics. The program material is devoid of Christian morals regarding sexuality. Our diocese does not approve of this program and strongly encourages Catholics not to utilize it.

This condemnation was then later the subject of a July 7, 2004 article in the Waco Tribune-Herald entitled, "Catholics discouraged from attending Nobody's Fool." Here are a few excerpts.

Helen Osman, spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Austin, said Tuesday the "strong recommendation" came down through a June 18 memo from the bishop to local clergy. The recommendation was subsequently published in parish newspapers and periodicals.

John Pisciotta, co-director of Pro-Life Waco, said Tuesday the diocese's move marks the first time the Catholic authority for the area encompassing Waco has come out against the increasingly controversial Nobody's Fool.

Pisciotta garnered national attention in anti-abortion circles for orchestrating a boycott against this year's Bluebonnet Council of the Girl Scouts of America cookie drive, based on the council's previous association with Nobody's Fool.

"This whole thing really started with John Pisciotta,' said the Rev. Angelo Bertini, pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Waco. "It didn't come to the diocese' attention until John raised it."

Osman confirmed the diocese was unfamiliar with Nobody's Fool until Pisciotta raised the issue. The diocese was concerned if it did not express its disapproval, some Catholics might assume it was giving tacit approval to the proceedings, she said.

"It is not life-giving and not in accord with Catholic teachings," she said of Nobody's Fool.

Once again, STOPP commends John Piscotta and Bishop Gregory Aymond of the Diocese of Austin for their inspiring efforts to protect children from the evils of Planned Parenthood. Those wishing to thank Bishop Aymond can write to him by e-mail or at P.O. Box 13327, Austin, TX 78701. John's website is http://www.prolifewaco.org/. If you wish to thank him as well, you can easily find contact information for him on that website.

New brochure and web site from Life Dynamics targets Planned Parenthood

Mark Crutcher and the wonderful pro-lifers at Life Dynamics Incorporated a have launched a new effort that is described on their website: www.KlanParenthood.com. This effort stresses the harm done to the black race in America by Planned Parenthood. The web site and brochure advise the public that:

• A black baby is now more than three times as likely to be murdered in the womb than a white baby.
• Since 1973, abortion has reduced the black population by over 25 percent.
• Twice as many African-Americans have died from abortion than have died from AIDS, accidents, violent crimes, cancer, and heart disease combined.
• Every three days, more African-Americans are killed by abortion than have been killed by the Ku Klux Klan in its entire history.

We encourage all who fight Planned Parenthood to include these new brochures in their arsenal of weapons to be used against PP.

Bishop and governor get Planned Parenthood website link removed

After Bishop Robert Carlson of the Diocese of Sioux Falls alerted South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds to the nature of Planned Parenthood's website for teens, the Governor urged the link to that site be removed from the South Dakota State Library site. In response to the Governor's efforts, the library board reversed an earlier decision and voted 5-1 to remove the link for at least two months pending further study.

The July 12, 2004 issue of the Argus Leader quoted from the bishop's letter to Governor Rounds, who is Catholic. The bishop wrote,

"I trust that you will agree that the information found on these links are not only objectionable, but in many instances false. Undeniably, it is sending a harmful message to our valued youth. I find it extremely troubling that the State of South Dakota would encourage our young women and men to turn to Planned Parenthood for any guidance, whether it be sex education or the intrinsic evil of abortion."

Other excerpts from the bishop's letter printed in the Argus Leader are,

"I believe the State of South Dakota must adopt policies and positions favoring chastity and abstinence over the 'safe sex' message now prevalent in our society," and

"This issue is much too important to leave to a 'balanced' approach. We need to provide solid leadership and take strong positions when teaching our youth about human sexuality."

Kate Looby, Planned Parenthood's state director, claimed that removal of the web link is "a censorship issue." "It makes me scared when the bishop is running the state," she said.

Ryan Report readers are urged to contact both the Bishop and the Governor to thank them for taking a stand against Planned Parenthood's efforts to pervert children by opposing the PP website. Bishop Carlson's website has a contact page at www.sfcatholic.org/contact.html. Contact information for Governor Rounds can be found on his website at website www.state.sd.us/governor.

See additional news coverage.

Pro-lifers mobilize against Planned Parenthood in Lufkin, Texas

STOPP received the following exciting report recently from the Texas based Coalition for Life.

The Lufkin Daily News reported that about 100 people attended the Coalition for Life's Tuesday, June 29, Town Hall meeting that kicked-off the effort to remove Planned Parenthood's harmful influence from East Texas.

The following Thursday, July 1, dozens of local believers came out between 11 AM and 1 PM to unite together in the public right-of-way outside of the Lufkin Planned Parenthood office to launch the area's Stand & Pray ministry, and dozens more joined in this lifesaving ministry again today, Tuesday, July 6.

The peaceful efforts of the Coalition for Life have become the top news story in East Texas, and the Lufkin newspaper's blatant Planned Parenthood advocacy has generated dozens of editorials and letters to the editor that have only served to build more controversy around Planned Parenthood.

Please pray for the courageous believers in Lufkin, Nacogdoches, and surrounding areas, as they take on this battle against evil.

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