PRI Urges Microsoft to Reconsider Corporate Donations

FRONT ROYAL, November 14, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Population Research Institute (PRI) is appealing to Microsoft Corp. shareholders not to make corporate contributions that strip individual shareholders of their right to contribute to the charities of their choice. “By making charitable contributions at the corporate level, we have usurped the right and duty of individuals to support their favorite charities,” says PRI’s November 11Weekly Briefing from president Dr. Steve Mosher.  The message, intended for the Microsoft Shareholder’s annual meeting, continues, “For example, abortion rights advocates often use the word choice, without mentioning what the choice is all about, that is, abortion. Today there are a number of prominent charities advocating for abortion and, in at least one case, Planned Parenthood, actually performing abortions.”“Microsoft employees and shareholders represent a broad range of interests. It is truly impossible to be sensitive to the moral, religious and cultural beliefs of so many people. Rather than compel our shareholders to support potentially controversial charitable groups, we should refrain from giving their money away for them. Let each person choose. The importance of individual choice is perhaps exceeded only by the importance of the life of each individual.”  For more details:  www.pop.org