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Pro-Life Update Government, given unrestricted power and unchecked by the citizenry, can oppress even its own people. This is felt most keenly by the vulnerable in the society. For over 34 years, abortion has systematically destroyed the youngest and most unprotected members—all of which has been sanctioned by governments throughout the world, including and especially our own. We must continue to fight the Culture of Death until each child—unborn and born—is recognized and welcomed into Life.
Please read this issue of the Pro-Life Update carefully to understand some of the challenges we now face and how you—an educated Pro-Lifer—can advance the Culture of Life. Please share this information with your family, friends, and church congregations. Make copies. Spread the news.
Planned Parenthood: Profiting from our Tax Dollars The 2005-2006 Planned Parenthood fiscal report has just been released, and they are still turning a profit with our tax dollars. America’s largest abortion provider reported committing 264,943 abortions in 2005 at Planned Parenthood clinics across America—an increase of about 4% from the previous year. Their presence and continued propaganda on “the importance of abortion” has enabled them to commit almost 4 million abortions since 1970.
The abortion business is extremely lucrative. Planned Parenthood brought in a record $902.8 million in 2005, with $345.1 million dollars coming from health center income. Planned Parenthood did not disclose how much money was made from abortions. However, a standard suction and curettage (first-trimester standard procedure) costs about $372. Therefore, a conservative estimate (since not all abortions are committed during the first trimester, and later abortions are much more expensive) would be almost $98.6 million in revenue from abortions. This represents about 28.6% of their total clinic income.
Even worse, Planned Parenthood receives funding through the federal government—via our tax money. Over one-third of their income ($305.1 million) came from federal “Government Grants and Contracts”; in Texas alone, Planned Parenthood receives about $55 million. Although some of the funds are not allowed to cover abortions, each dollar they receive for their other services frees up more money for their abortion business.
Many people still believe that Planned Parenthood provides much-needed medical services. However, their extensive involvement in and promotion of abortion by far overshadows what other services they may provide. Planned Parenthood harms and destroys more women and families than any other organization in the United States.
China’s Birth Control Slogans The Chinese government, concerned that their population will outnumber their resources, has for 28 years now prohibited families from having more than one child. They have enforced this policy through coercion, forced abortion, and infanticide. With the prospect of just one child, most families hope for a boy to carry on their family name, and therefore, girls are considered undesirable. Many families seek illegal ultrasounds to determine the gender of their unborn child (ultrasound for non-medical purposes has been illegal in China for 10 years). Often, if that child is female, she will be aborted. As Americans, we are rightly appalled that citizens could be coerced or even forced by government to not have children or to abort their unborn children.
To help “persuade” their citizens of this policy, the Chinese government has been using incredibly repulsive slogans. Some of these include:
Recently, the Chinese National Population and Family Planning Commission downplayed their use of these slogans in order to dispel the impression that the government was “simply forcing people to give up having more babies, causing misunderstanding (of) the policy and even tarnishing the image of the government.”
However, the actions of the government clearly show that this is their intent. Media reports have documented that public servants in Bobai County were ordered to collect fines from people who violated their one-child policy. One villager reported that some fees were as high as $1,300—when the average annual income was only $130. If violators did not pay within three days, their homes would be demolished and their belongings seized.
The Pro-Life movement still has much work to ensure that all people throughout the world are welcomed into Life and respected. If you would like any additional information on the topics discussed above, please send me a note or log onto www.TexasRightToLife.com. If you ever have questions about any Pro-Life issues, please be sure to let me know. Yours for Life, Dr. Joseph M. Graham President |
