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Point-counterpoint: Defund Planned Parenthood

Editor's note: The CRCNA is resolutely pro-life, which includes opposing the practice of abortion. Every year we mark Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, and abortion is one of the issues that the Office of Social Justice (OSJ) monitors. At the OSJ, we are hearing both arguments for and against defunding Planned Parenthood recently. Pro-life people are not in agreement over whether defunding it is the answer. So we are hosting a point-counterpoint set of articles--one CRC member writing for defunding the organization, and another writing against defunding it. Today, Rose Schulenberg argues the "pro" side and we will host the "con" side on Friday. Stay tuned as well for our "What being pro-life means to me" series, starting September 21 or see this recent post from Shannon Jammal-Hollemans.  

Planned Parenthood (PP) should not just be defunded but all facilities should be closed down completely. How should a Christian react especially in light of the videos that have exposed them for what they are doing? I believe we should respond with righteous anger. Righteous anger reacts to actual sin, focuses on God and His Kingdom (not our own agenda) and is directed toward what angers God Himself. The dismemberment, disembowelment, and decapitation of our pre-born neighbors is an act of evil. They are crushing tiny bodies in the womb on our dime. Plain and simple.

The videos show without a doubt that the health and well-being of women is not PP's main goal. Procuring fetal body parts and selling them for profit are. How can they talk about 'family planning' when they are in the business of people-killing? In 2014, Planned Parenthood reported doing 327,653 abortions - 897 a day. That works out to be 37 per hour, or roughly one every 90 seconds. If Planned Parenthood (665 sites) would be shut down tomorrow there are still 13,540 clinics providing comprehensive health care for women. This is not to mention all the Crisis Pregnancy Centers, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies that would continue to offer true choice and empowerment to every woman who faces an unexpected pregnancy.

“40 percent of all reported abortions committed in the United States occur at a Planned Parenthood clinic, making it by far the largest abortion provider in America….

Prenatal services (those services provided to women who choose to keep their baby) account for a measly 0.28 percent off all services provided [by Planned Parenthood]. Moreover, the 841 adoption referrals made by Planned Parenthood in their last reported year amount to a whopping 0.0076 percent of services rendered" (Lifenews.com).

And yet PP receives $487.4 million dollars a year from American taxpayers.

Science proves that life begins at conception. That is when each of our own lives began. The pre-born are just like you and me, just younger. All they need is time to develop. If David Daleiden had released videos of PP systematically killing toddlers and harvesting their organs, would we even consider continuing to fund them for the sake of the good they do? No! If we believe that all human life has equal value no matter how old you are, where you live, or how dependent you are, then there is no question that all PP sites should be shut down permanently - and immediately! If people are convinced that Planned Parenthood's non-abortion services are important, Planned Parenthood should be convinced to get out of the dismemberment business.

As Christians we can peacefully demand that our money does not fund an organization that kills our pre-born babies. We are called to be Christ-like. Let's not forget that Jesus also got angry when He cleared the temple of the money-changers and animal-sellers (John 2:13-22). His anger was both pure and justified because at its root was concern for God’s holiness and worship.

The abortion issue is not about politics but about human rights and who deserves them. Our first inalienable right is the right to life.

This week, the Congressional Judiciary Committee conducted its first hearing on the investigation of Planned Parenthood. During the questioning period, Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte read from Justice Kennedy’s dissent in the U.S. Supreme Court Stenberg v. Carhart decision. The testimony of Dr. Leroy Carhart, a famed and brutal late-term abortionist was quoted.

“Carhart testified that he had personally ‘observed fetal heartbeat’ on an ultrasound screen, even after substantial portions of the baby had been dismembered and pulled apart. This type of abortion is known as a D&E abortion, or a ‘dismemberment abortion,’ as the baby is literally torn and ripped apart, limb from torso.”

How can we read things like that and still wonder if we should support PP? How can we watch the videos that have been released and even consider supporting PP? Where is our outrage? Where is our righteous anger?

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11, NIV)

Further reading:

Top 12 Reasons to Defund Planned Parenthood Now (Susan B. Anthony list)

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