Planned Parenthood\u2019s Clergy Advocacy Board stands behind the nation\u2019s largest abortion provider, saying they are \u201cdoing God\u2019s work.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Board released a statement<\/a>\u00a0(which was first taken off of Planned Parenthood\u2019s website, and later put up again<\/a> with a video) in response to what they describe is a Center for Medical Progress (CMP) \u201csmear campaign\u201d (planned-parenthood-clergy-advocacy-board-releases-response-to-smear-campaign\u201d).<\/p>\n CMP<\/a>\u00a0recorded\u00a0an undercover video exposing Planned Parenthood employees discussing their enthusiastic efforts to illegally sell aborted baby parts. Some\u00a0include<\/a>\u00a0 whole baby bodies<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0 partial birth abortions<\/a>. One purchaser, Stem Express, is \u201ca multi-million dollar company that supplies human blood, tissue products, primary cells and other clinical specimens to biomedical researchers.\u201d<\/p>\n Federal and state laws outlaw direct sales of body parts for profit. However, companies like Stem Express circumvent the law by donating to Planned Parenthood and only charging customers interested in purchasing specific fetal tissue and body parts for \u201cprocessing and shipping fees.\u201d<\/p>\n Buying and selling fetal tissue and baby parts is an enormously profitable business. Fetal tissue provides \u201ca uniquely rich source of stem cells\u201d that university laboratories and medical research facilities buy for a variety of purposes.\u00a0Fetal liver cells<\/a>, for example, range in price from $488 to $24,250.<\/p>\n Last year, the National Institutes of Health spent $76 million on research using fetal tissue\u2014through grants it gave to more than 50 universities. Grant recipients included Columbia, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale and several branches of the University of California (Berkeley, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco).<\/p>\n As a result of CMP\u2019s videos, more than 12 states and two U.S. House of Representative committees have launched investigations into Planned Parenthood\u2019s practices. Recent efforts to halt federal funding of Planned Parenthood were derailed by both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n While the board members (listed below) claim to be \u201cfaith leaders committed to justice, honesty, and liberty.\u201d Their utmost concern, is \u201cthe decades-long campaign of harassment against Planned Parenthood and those they serve.\u201d<\/p>\n Harassment over what\u2014dismembering babies or Planned Parenthood\u2019s commitment to eugenics?<\/p>\n The board members argue, \u201cOur faiths demand care for those marginalized by poverty and other oppressions. Faith leaders have supported Planned Parenthood for nearly 100 years because of our shared goals: every person \u2014 regardless of income, race, or religion \u2014 deserves access to safe, affordable, high-quality health care.\u201d<\/p>\n Faith in what? Faith according to the Bible asserts no such thing. Killing a pregnant woman is considered a double homicide requiring legal justice (Exodus 21:22-25). Shedding innocent blood is condemned throughout the Bible also requiring legal justice. (Deut. 19:10; 1 Sam. 19:5; Psalm 94:20-21; Proverbs 6:16-17; Isaiah 59:2-7)<\/p>\n Even\u00a0Common Law and the U.S. Constitution\u00a0illegalized\u00a0abortion.\u00a0The founders specifically inserted \u201cunalienable rights\u201d knowing that human rights came from God alone, not manmade laws, because God authored every life in the womb. (Job 31:15; Psalm 22:9-10; Isa. 44:2; 49:5; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Luke 1:15)<\/p>\n Their \u201cshared goal\u201d that every person have \u201caccess to affordable high-quality health care\u201d is nonsensical. How can dead people receive high quality health care?<\/p>\n They also mischaracterize Planned Parenthood as an indispensable provider of \u201chigh-quality care.\u201d Yet Planned Parenthood\u2019s own records reveal it as a profit centered abortion business, not healthcare. Its own 2013-2014 annual report figures reveal that 94 percent of Planned Parenthood\u2019s \u201cpregnancy services\u201d were abortions.<\/p>\n The board members also purport a blatant lie: that abortion providers offer \u201cthe best of what religious traditions do.\u201d Christian faith demands that every person\u2014regardless of income, race, or religion\u2014 deserves the right to live. The Planned Parenthood \u201cclerics\u201d are not\u00a0among them.<\/p>\n Planned Parenthood Advocacy Board Members support death over life and everything the God of the Bible and Christianity\u00a0does not. God\u2019s work involves saving babies, not killing and selling them.<\/p>\n Planned Parenthood Clergy Advocacy Board Members include: Vice Chair t<\/strong>he Rev. David A. Ames<\/strong><\/a> Rev. Tom Davis<\/strong><\/a> Leadership<\/strong> The Rev. Kevin Jones<\/strong><\/a> Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter<\/strong><\/a> The Rev. Vincent Lachina\u00a0<\/strong><\/a> The Rev. Jeremy Lopez<\/strong> Rev Janet Maykus<\/strong><\/a> Rabbi Dennis Ross<\/strong><\/a>
\nYet the \u201cbest of religious traditions\u201d have always promoted<\/a>\u00a0 efforts\u00a0that contribute to human flourishing. Christians were the first to found hospitals, schools, orphanages and later adoption and foster parenting services\u2014to help people live\u2014because they understand God\u2019s directive to \u201cchoose life.\u201d (Deut. 30)<\/p>\n
\nChair\u00a0<\/strong>Rabbi Jon Adland<\/strong><\/a>
\n<\/strong>Canton, OH (Reform Jewish)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Providence, RI\u00a0 (Episcopal)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Saratoga Springs, NY (United Church of Christ)<\/p>\n
\nThe Rev. Dr. Gawain F. de Leeuw<\/strong>
\nWhite Plains, NY (Episcopal)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Greenacres, FL (Baptist)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>First Unitarian Church of Dallas
\n<\/strong>Dallas, TX (Unitarian)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Seattle, WA (American Baptist)<\/p>\n
\nSalem United Church
\nTonowanda, NY (United Church of Christ)<\/p>\n
\nIndianapolis, IN\u00a0
\n<\/strong>Christian Church DOC<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Concerned Clergy for Choice
\nAlbany, NY (Reform Jewish)<\/p>\n