February 15, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In a desperate attempt to rally pro-abortion forces to head-off proposed defunding and allegations of illegal activity at Planned Parenthood, CEO Cecile Richards sent out an email on February 14 with the subject line “the worst attack – ever.” Richards said that the “anti-choice House leadership is forcing a vote on the most dangerous legislative assault on women’s health in Planned parenthood’s 95-year history.”
“They want to shut down every Planned Parenthood health center in America,” Richards declared.
Richards was referring to the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, a measure introduced by U.S. Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) on January 7, 2011. The bill, which was just approved by the House Energy and Commerce today, would strip Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortions in America, of federal Title X funds.
Title X funds are earmarked for providing “comprehensive family planning” and related services.
Pence stated, “The largest abortion provider in America should not also be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title X.”
Planned Parenthood receives over $360 million a year in federal funding.
Pence said the new legislation would prevent any abortion-providing organization, including Planned Parenthood, from receiving Title X funds. However, the bill would not reduce the total amount of Title X funds and would free more federal monies to groups that do not provide abortion.
In her email, Richards observed, “This attack … is not an isolated incident. It’s part of a coordinated campaign meant to shut down Planned Parenthood …”
Along with the proposed defunding legislation, recent revelations made in a series of undercover videos released by the pro-life organization Live Action have shown numerous Planned Parenthood facilities willing to aid and abet sex traffickers by helping them obtain birth control and abortions for their underage “sex workers.”
The videos have brought into question Planned Parenthood’s credibility as a self-professed provider of care for women.
Live Action’s latest videos have also resulted in calls for law enforcement investigations into Planned Parenthood’s activities.
Live Action President Lila Rose said videos of PP clinic staff in New Jersey and Richmond, VA, coaching a purported pimp and his prostitute on how to cover up their child sex trafficking operation is evidence of the endemic problem of Planned Parenthood’s willingness to aid and abet in the sexual exploitation of minors and young women.
“We are sharing the full Richmond footage and transcripts with Virginia law enforcement officials and we are formally asking Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to conduct a statewide investigation of these heinous practices, just as the New Jersey Attorney General is opening her own investigation into Planned Parenthood’s compliance with the law in her state. Planned Parenthood needs to be held accountable,” Rose said.
On another front, a coalition of many of the country’s most prominent pro-life organizations, united under the name “Expose Planned Parenthood,” held a “vigil for victims of underage sex trafficking” February 14 in front of Planned Parenthood facilities across the country.
The website of the Expose Planned Parenthood coalition says that the vigils focused on three major ideas: that Planned Parenthood is aiding & abetting underage sex trafficking, that it is unsafe for women and girls, and that it should not be receiving tax dollars.
“Enough is enough,” says the coalition. “We must act swiftly and take a public stand against Planned Parenthood’s harmful agenda – raising awareness in the communities where we live, and calling upon Congress to IMMEDIATELY strip the abortion chain of all tax funding.”
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) slammed Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) for its attempt to smear Lila Rose and cover up “its protracted pattern of illicit activities.”
“Out of fear and desperation, Planned Parenthood and its president, Cecile Richards, have unleashed their attack dogs to distract from their unsafe and exploitive practices,” Dannenfelser said in a press release. “Ms. Richards has no concern about the organization’s documented and systemic willingness to aid and abet sex trafficking of minors, which tells us much about Planned Parenthood and their real agenda.”
“At its core, Planned Parenthood and its clinics are not safe for women, for children and for the public at large. American taxpayers should not be funding this organization that engages in potential criminal activity,” Dannenfelser said.