INSIDE PLANNED PARENTHOOD

From Action Line February 28, 1989

Planned Parenthood (PP) is the best known "family planning" agency

in the world. Headquartered at London, England, the International

Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is involved in more than 100

countries. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the

American affiliate of the IPPF.

The PPFA has about 200 affiliates and operates about 700 clinics

in the United States. Affiliation allows the local organization to use

the Planned Parenthood name and logo and participate in PPFA financial

programs. The local affiliates pay dues to the PPFA. The PPFA pays

dues to the IPPF. All parts of PP are connected by a common mission.

Margaret Sanger

Margaret Sanger was the founder of PP. Active in the Eugenics

Movement (the "science" that seeks to improve races through controlled

breeding), Sanger sought to protect the freedom and power of "superior"

human beings who, she believed, should rule over the impure masses.

Sanger sought to control the reproduction of poor people and

immigrants, especially non-white immigrants. She called them "reckless

breeders", who knew how to do nothing but produce children, and claimed

they were "unceasingly spawning (a) class of human beings who never

should have been born..."

Sanger believed that providing charity to the poor only served to

perpetuate poverty. If the poor were not given any assistance, she

reasoned, they would die out, and the problem would be solved.

But allowed to breed unchecked, she warned, the poor would

eventually produce enough of their own kind to rise up and topple

proper society. As a result, the world would face "biological

destruction", caused by "the gradual but certain attack upon the stocks

of intelligence and racial health by the sinister forces of the hordes

of irresponsible and imbeciles."

An opponent of marriage, Sanger supported a casual and voluntary

connection between sexual partners. In her words; "the marriage bed is

the most degenerating influence in the social order."

Sanger believed that married couples should be required to get a

permit before having a child, and that each permit would be valid for

only one birth. Individuals who were declared to be of an inferior

genetic code would be sterilized.

"The purpose," she wrote, "...shall be to provide for a better

distribution of babies, to assist couples who wish to prevent

overproduction of offspring and thus to reduce the burdens of charity

and taxation for public relief, and to protect society against the

propagation and increase of the unfit..."

Sanger also opposed the American form of government, calling it

"rule by mere number", and favored the establishment of an aristocracy.

Sanger's Memory Honored

In this age of broad social concern for minorities and the

disadvantaged, one might expect that Planned Parenthood would back away

from Margaret Sanger's radical positions. Not so.

Actress Katharine Hepburn, an avid supporter of abortion rights

and PP, wrote a letter for the federation noting that, "Planned

Parenthood is not losing sight of Margaret Sanger's original goal..."

Another letter signed by Faye Wattleton, PPFA's president, hailed

Sanger as "an American pioneer in the truest and noblest self-

sacrificing sense...Sanger's memory is honored throughout the world by

men and women who understand her monumental achievements for humanity."

Rather than running from Sanger's memory, PP is clinging strongly

to it.

Early Efforts

Sanger founded PP as the American Birth Control League in the

early 1900's. The racial policies of Nazi Germany in the 1930's and

1940's soured the American public on eugenics and the name was changed

to Planned Parenthood in 1942.

Through the 1950's, PP was generally known as a private

organization that supported birth control and sterilization. They

largely avoided the subject of abortion, although the organization's

president, Alan Guttmacher, supported the liberalization of abortion

laws.

As the federation's budget grew with federal support for their

birth control programs, PP's political agenda resurfaced and the repeal

of abortion laws became a priority. Realizing they would be unable to

get support from lawmakers and the public, PP officials began to see

the judicial system as their best chance for change. Incredibly, PP

has been involved in almost every case involving the liberalization of

abortion laws.

PP opened its first abortion clinic in New York the same month

that abortion was legalized in that state. Today, PP operates at least

60 abortion clinics, the largest chain in the world, and terminates

almost 100,000 unborn children every year.

Teaching Your Children

Attempting to quiet criticism that their programs promote teen

sexual activity, PP has moved to represent itself as a voice for

abstinence and self-control. One pamphlet called, Teen Sex? It's Okay

to Say: No Way!, says it is not true that "everybody's doing it", and

continues, "It may be true that nearly half of today's young people

have had intercourse. It's just as true that more than half have not."

Such statements can serve PP in two ways. Though their own

surveys show that only 20-28% of teens have had intercourse (many only

once), exaggerated estimations of teen sexual activity provide

arguments for continued federal support, and give the impression that

PP really opposes extra-marital sex.

Even here, however, PP's real philosophy comes through in

statements like "What's right for you?", and "make up your own mind."

As ever, PP is committed to offering minors birth control and abortion

services without the knowledge or guidance of their parents.

Is Teen Sex Okay?

Does PP really mean what they say when they tell children it's

okay to say "no" to sex? In a publication entitled, Is It Okay for

PPFA to Say 'No Way'?, Susan Newcomer, the Director of Education for

PPFA, argues it may not be in the best interest of teens or PP to tell

teens that it's okay to say "no".

Newcomer argues that chastity training "seems to set up moral

conflicts" in children. However, she says it may be necessary to

include some discussion of chastity if there is no other way to get PP

into the schools.

Newcomer is concerned that if PP tells children to say "no" to

sex, the young people might be inclined to stay away from PP when they

want to get involved sexually. Newcomer writes: "Planned Parenthood

has always presented abstaining from sex as one contraceptive option.

We must remember, though, that it is only one of the many, and informed

choice is critical..."

In a radio debate with Doug Scott, Christian Action Council

Director of Public Policy, Newcomer defended her beliefs: "Sometimes

the decision (to include chastity training) is more an implicit

assumption...about the value of abstinence for young people. The age

at which intercourse is thought to be acceptable varies widely, though

I have met few people who wholeheartedly think 12- or 13-year-olds are

ready..."

Scott argued the statement was ridiculous and young people should

be taught abstinence. Newcomer's response: "That is your value

judgment."

Scott: "No, it's not my value judgment. That's what's best for

teens. There are certain basics that are not a question of values but

a question of what is good for teens. It is not good for teens to be

involved with drugs. It is not good for teens to be involved with

alcohol. It is not good for teens to be involved in sexual activity.

It is just not good for them -- psychologically, physically,

emotionally, -- there is no positive aspect."

Newcomer: "...I can't say I can be as categorical about sexual

behavior as I am about the use of (cigarettes and) illicit substances."

PP and Parents

The Perils of Puberty, a PP ad for teens advises, "There are

certain things you do not want to talk about to your parents. There

are certain things they don't want to talk about to you... The only

thing you owe anyone is courtesy... You don't owe anyone 'love'..."

Another PP ad is entitled, Since Your Parents Are Afraid to Talk

to You and Your School's Hands Are Probably Tied, Here's Some Hard

Facts... One part of the ad reads, "Myth: I can't get birth control,

I'm under 18. Fact: Wrong. If your parents are stupid enough to deny

you access to birth control and you are under 18, you can get it on

your own without parental consent. Call Planned Parenthood right now."

The Abortion Connection

PP is by far the single most vocal proponent of abortion rights

and birth control for teens. They have published countless ads,

brochures, and documents that make their position clear. Wattleton

says, "We committed ourselves to restoring access to abortion to the

poor and to preserving it as a matter of choice to individuals

throughout the economic spectrum..." Wattleton writes "when you

support Planned Parenthood you support a...campaign to...work against

the enactment of laws that restrict the availability of abortions."

Planned Parenthood has placed full-page ads in many major

newspapers and magazines including The Washington Post, The New York

Times, Time and Newsweek. Designed to convince the public that

abortion should remain legal, the ads have proved very successful in

getting PP's message heard and in mobilizing support and dollars for

lobbying efforts.

A full page ad that appeared in The New York Times was headlined,

Nine Reasons Why Abortions Are Legal. Another full page ad, running in

the same newspaper one day later, described Five Ways to Prevent

Abortion (And One Way That Won't).

Attacking the Dr. Bernard Nathanson film, The Silent Scream, PP

writes, "The abolition of legal abortion would have a serious negative

impact on the health of women and children..."

PP clinics performed 98,638 abortions in 1986 (8% more than in

1985) and referred 92,849 women for abortions elsewhere. At an average

cost of $215 for a first trimester abortion, it is estimated that PP

made $21.2 million on abortions in 1986 alone.

"What Women Don't Know..."

Many women report having had bad experiences at PP clinics. Tina

went to a PP clinic in Washington state. After receiving a positive

pregnancy test, all the counselor did was provide her with a list of

abortionists. "They never asked me if I wanted to keep the baby. They

just gave me the names. They must have just assumed that I wanted an

abortion because I was a teenager and not married." The "pro-choice"

establishment offered Tina no choice at all.

In 1983, PP of Seattle-King County (where abortions were referred

out after "counseling") did 4,893 pregnancy tests. Of the positive

tests, 22.6% were referred for prenatal care, 0.4% were referred for

adoption and 77% were referred for abortion. At this PP clinic, more

than three-fourths of the women chose abortion while nationally, only

one-third do so.

Despite these statistics, the Seattle PP claims it provides

comprehensive services to women in need, including women who do not

want to abort. Yet, you can find no support from PP for the unselfish

work of volunteers at Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

In January of 1987, Lee Minto, Executive Director of the Seattle-

King County PP, appeared on public television and criticized the local

Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC), accusing the CPC of deceiving women.

When questioned as to why PP does not refer women who don't want to

abort to the CPC, Minto attacked the CPC, saying it misleads women and

improperly proselytizes them about Christianity.

Doug Scott, who defended the CPC's, told Minto she ought to "be

ashamed" of herself for attacking volunteers whose only desire is to

help women, while PP has a financial stake in what they are doing. If

a woman wants to abort, PP helps her, but if she chooses not to abort,

PP refers her to another organization.

Minto's irritation with the King County CPC is understandable when

one realizes that the CPC has proven to be an effective competitor. So

much so that PP of Seattle-King County announced they would begin

providing abortion services this year.

In response, a campaign was organized by the King County chapter

of the CAC and Human Life, a Washington state pro-life group, to

convince United Way of King County (UWKC) to stop funding PP. When

UKWC told PP it would have to meet certain guidelines in order to

continue receiving monies, PP refused and withdrew as a UWKC agency.

A Right to Your Money

PP's court activity leads one to think PP officials believe they

have a constitutional right to taxpayers' money. PP's actions have

been designed to overturn congressional and Reagan Administration

efforts to limit funds going to PP.

While taxpayers are the largest revenue source for PP, corporate

support (usually through foundations) has also been extremely

lucrative. Foundations such as those funded by Scott Paper, Heinz,

American Express, Xerox, Pillsbury, Bristol-Meyers, Kodak, General

Mills, Citicorp, and Chase Manhattan have had a large impact on PP

coffers.

International Activity

The PP Standards of Affiliation state, "Each affiliate shall

publicly support the purposes and policies of the PPFA and shall

develop a program to further those purposes and policies." Likewise,

the IPPF adopted a policy which reads, "Membership in IPPF imposes a

responsibility on family planning agencies to perform in the best

interest of the Federation, both in their activities at home and their

contribution to the international movement."

The IPPF pressures governments to comply with its wishes. In the

IPPF publication, Human Right to Family Planning, it states, "IPPF

should press upon governments the realization that only after they

have...provided universal access to fertility regulation information,

will they be entitled to ask their citizens to adhere to specific

population policies.

IPPF and other non-governmental organizations

should give high priority to building up community support for social

change, including responsible fertility behavior. If abortion is

denied by national law, then you would have to adopt a gradual approach

to promoting full choice of fertility regulation methods."

The Chinese program of one child per couple appears to be in line

with PP approach. While PP claims there is "no element of coercion" in

the Chinese program, the case of Quan and Ping Hong Li proved

otherwise. As noted in the September 15, 1988 edition of Action Line,

Ping Hong Li became pregnant with her second child while studying in

Arizona. Chinese officials ordered her to get an abortion. She

refused and received political asylum.

Defunding Planned Parenthood

Local efforts to end funding of PP can pay off if pursued with

diligence. After years of effort, the CAC chapter in North Carolina

was successful last year in stopping county taxpayer funds from going

to PP.

Mecklenburg County in North Carolina had been funding PP for many

years. Led by local CAC leader, Barret Mosbacker, a group calling

itself "The Ad Hoc Committee to Oppose Public Funding of Planned

Parenthood" lobbied aggressively behind the scenes and rallied support

for their cause.

Mosbacker received criticism from the media, led by The Charlotte

Observer. This is not surprising considering that the newspaper's

publisher received the "Margaret Sanger Award" from PP in 1985. The

publisher even vowed to "personally make up the difference in the

budget" if the county Commission refused to fund PP.

When the vote was taken, two County Commissioners who had

supported PP in the past changed sides, giving the pro-life side a 4-3

victory. In response, PP took out a full-page advertisement in the

Observer attacking, by name, the four commissioners who had opposed

funding.

Barrett Mosbacker believes that this success can be duplicated in

other areas of the country. He does warn, however, not to expect

immediate success. It is a long-term battle.

Information contained herein is from Planned Parenthood: Behind

The Scenes by Douglas R. Scott


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