THE RYAN REPORT

Planned Parenthood acts as if it is above the law

We never cease to be amazed at the sheer arrogance of Planned Parenthood. You may recall that Mark Crutcher of Life Dynamics Incorporated conducted an investigation where he had a woman call every Planned Parenthood abortion facility and say she was a 13-year-old girl who was pregnant as a result of sex with her 22-years-old boyfriend. Over 90% of the PP facilities cooperated with the girl in covering up that relationship.

In Kansas, attorney general Phill Kline began an investigation to see if abortion facilities in the state were involved in such cover-ups. Kline has said that one of the reasons for his investigation is that "rape is a serious crime, and when a 10, 11 or 12-year-old is pregnant, they have been raped under Kansas law." He pointed out that, in Kansas, no one under the age of 16 can legally consent to sex. "There are two things child predators want, access to children and secrecy, and as attorney general I am bound and determined to not give them either."

One of the places Kline wants records from is a Planned Parenthood abortion facility. Planned Parenthood is fighting the investigation claiming that it does not want to turn over the records.

In a similar investigation by Indiana state attorney general Stephen Carter, Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent Carter from obtaining the records he needs

In a related story, a couple in Ohio has filed suit against Planned Parenthood for committing an abortion on their 14-year-old daughter.

Planned Parenthood organizational and facility changes

• New facility in Ashland, Oregon
• Planned Parenthood Cincinnati Region has merged with its much smaller neighbor, Planned Parenthood of the Greater Miami Valley in Dayton. The new organization, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, has 13 centers scattered across the region, from Cincinnati to Springfield
• Planned Parenthood trying to open new facility in Oxford, Mississippi

Links to recent news items on Planned Parenthood

We present here each month links to recent stories about Planned Parenthood. (Note that many newspapers move web pages. The links below were working at time this report was initially sent.)

• A college student looks at Margaret Sanger and eugenics
• A look at how Planned Parenthood engineered the Griswold decision that ultimately brought abortion to the United States
• In Texas, Planned Parenthood organizes a lobbying day, even though, in most states, it would be illegal for an organization that receives government money to lobby legislators for more money
• Life Decisions International releases analysis that shows Planned Parenthood has lost over $30 million due to the effects of LDI's Corporate Funding Project. All STOPP supporters are encouraged to join in this effort against PP
• Pro-lifers launch campaign in Virginia to discourage businesses from associating with Planned Parenthood
• Report on Planned Parenthood event in Amarillo, Texas shows how low the morale in the organization is
• The following items show how PP tries to use courts to impose its will on the American public, frequently in opposition to decisions made by representatives elected by the people:
  • Trying to overturn Michigan abortion restrictions
  • Considering lawsuits against South Dakota abortion restrictions
• The following items concern protests against PP
  • Billings, Montana
  • Washington, D.C.
  • At PPFA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
• The following items concern places funding Planned Parenthood:
  • U.S. Senate votes to allow funding of International Planned Parenthood Federation:
  • Nebraska funding of PP questioned
  • Court rules Texas can withhold funds from Planned Parenthood

STOPP's directors, Jim Sedlak and David Bereit, regularly give talks around the country on Planned Parenthood. Our current schedule is always posted on our web site. To schedule a talk in your area, please call our offices at 540-659-4171 or e-mail us. We have the following talks coming up in the next month, please say hello if you attend any of these talks:

• April 28, 2005 - David Bereit, Seguin Pregnancy Center, Seguin, Texas
• May 17, 2005 - Jim Sedlak, Manna Church (1 p.m.), Fayetteville, North Carolina
• May 17, 2005 - Jim Sedlak, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (6:30 p.m.), Fayetteville, North Carolina
• May 22, 2005 - Jim Sedlak, Holy Trinity Church, Hartford, Connecticut

PP funding bill defeated in Idaho

We are happy to report that Idaho's House Health and Welfare Committee killed the Planned Parenthood funding bill SB1140. The vote was 8-4 to table the bill. That is a pretty stunning victory, given the fact that the Senate committee passed the bill unanimously, and the Senate voted for it 18-17. Know that your prayers and phone calls and donations mattered. STOPP offers congratulations to all those in Idaho who worked to defeat this funding.

Indianapolis Woman magazine refuses Planned Parenthood's ad

Last year, the monthly magazine Indianapolis Woman published an ad and ran photos from the inaugural "Gathering of Goddesses," according to Planned Parenthood chief executive officer Betty Cockrum. But the magazine declined an offer to help sponsor the 2005 event and even refused to accept money for an ad.

The IW associate publisher Judy Burnett provided a written statement to local reporters: "As you know, this is a very divisive issue. As a matter of policy, we have chosen not to benefit financially from such a passionate issue. Therefore, we do not accept advertising from either Planned Parenthood or from any of the right-to-life organizations," it said.

The magazine reportedly told the fundraiser's coordinator, Julia O'Brien, that it took some "heat" for its association with the agency, according to Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Theresa Browning.

Congratulations to pro-lifers in Indianapolis for turning up the "heat." STOPP encourages all of our supporters to do the same in communities all across the nation.

Planned Parenthood expelled from Colorado Springs public schools

In a campaign that began less than six months ago to expose the pro-sex, anti-parental involvement lies that characterize the foundation of Planned Parenthood, a few dedicated Christians were able to build the momentum needed to oust the organization from a public school system in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In October of 2004, Mike Gamble, a concerned citizen in Colorado Springs, was fed up with what he had learned about Planned Parenthood and their widely accepted sex education classes that have been taught in the public schools over the past 30 years. He decided to do something about it.

Enlisting the help of Ken and Jo Scott, leaders of the pro-life action group Denver Pro-Life Alliance, they mounted a campaign against Planned Parenthood which exposed them for who they really are: the largest abortion provider in the world with a history steeped in racism.

Using federal laws that mandate the disclosure of the use of public funds to anyone who requests the information, Mike was able to learn when and where Planned Parenthood was teaching and who invited them. Armed with this information, a contingent of activists joined him for a graphic display of the horrors of abortion outside of three high schools where the abortion provider was scheduled.

This caused parents and teachers alike to get involved, while newspapers were ablaze with editorials and letters to the editor on both sides of the issue. The group informed all the schools in Colorado Springs that every time Planned Parenthood was teaching, they would also be there with the display of large graphic signs. The strategy worked.

The schools in Colorado Springs voluntarily decided not to invite Planned Parenthood into their classrooms, even though the school board voted to allow Planned Parenthood to continue teaching sex education. Not only is this a victory for Christians in Colorado Springs and throughout the nation, but a testimony to the effectiveness of displaying the graphic truth of abortion to a country that would rather look the other way.

STOPP congratulates Mike and all the active fighters against Planned Parenthood in Colorado. We encourage all our supporters to stop Planned Parenthood's access to our young people.

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