(WWJD Disclaimer: Before any of y'all go getting your knickers in a twist here, let's all keep in mind that I'm NOT denigrating Christianity. In point of fact, I respect and honor Christianity. It's CHRISTIANS that I have a problem with...those who call themselves "Christians" but in actuality know as much about the teachings of Jesus Christ as they do about running the West Coast offense. Christianity is not about power, control, and reaction...though you'd never know it from listening to most- not all- Christians.)
A number of Planned Parenthood clinics in Indiana and Illinois are offering gift certificates for their services this Christmas. Officials say the vouchers enable people to give their loved ones "the gift of life" -- that would help pay for annual checkups and birth control -- but also can be used for abortions.Chrystal Struben-Hall with Planned Parenthood of Indiana said the idea is a response to economic woes that have forced many women to put health care at the bottom of their to-do list.
On of the hot trends this holida...er, Christmas...season is creativity. With the economy sucking the proverbial root, people seem to be much more creative this year in their gift-giving. To wit, Planned Parenthood clinics in Illinois and Indiana are now offering gift certificates for family-planning services...and as you might imagine, some good, God-fearing zealots are seeing the Mark of the Beast in this one.
OHMIGOD...you can even order the gift certificates online. Whatever will these evil heathens think of next?? Why...these gift certificates might even be used to pay for...GASP!!!...abortions!!! Oh, the humanity...why, before you know it, abortionists will be roaming the halls of our public schools, preaching the gospel of sex without responsibility or consequences. What more evidence do we need that our Republic is heading to Hell in a handbasket???
A number of religious and pro-life groups are outraged, saying that at a time when millions are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Planned Parenthood is offering a gift that could fund an abortion.
"They can and will be used to end the lives of children at Christmas," said Cathy Ruse of the Family Research Council. She believes the gift certificates will anger many, even those who are not deeply religious. "A coupon for abortion at Christmastime?" Ruse said. "That's just inherently offensive, I think, to all Americans."
Planned Parenthood of Indiana said the gift certificates will be especially useful in a state where, they say, 800,000 people are uninsured or cannot afford basic care.
Even the state's Health Commissioner is calling the certificates a "really meaningful gift."
Christmas controversy is not new to Planned Parenthood. In the mid-1990s it began offering "Choice on Earth" holiday cards. The American Life League called the twist on the "peace on earth" message found in the New Testament book of Luke bigoted "mockery."
Yes, God forbid that we should actually make it easier for women to obtain family-planning services- especially in less-affluent areas where it might actually make a different....
I love the disapproving, clucking tone of the Fox News article. "Fair and balanced", my ass.... Perhaps if Shannon Bream, the reporter responsible for this hack job did a bit more digging, she might begin to understand that less-affluent women deserve the same access to family-planning services that she and her fellow ideologues take for granted...or explain why they are less deserving. Yes, I suppose it's possible that some off these gift certificates may be used to pay for abortions, but abortion is not the only family planning service provided by Planned Parenthood...hence the "Planned" portion of the organization's name, knowhutimean??
Perhaps it's time that these judgmental (allegedly) Christian zealots take a good long look at the reality behind the need for these sort of gift certificates. If you don't believe in abortion or family-planning services, there's no law requiring you to partake of them. Neither do you have the right to deny such services to women in legitimate need of them, however. Don't you think it's about time that you kept your hands- and your narrow, bigoted beliefs- off the bodies of women?
