Through the years, a number of Catholic leaders have made specific statements concerning the organization Planned Parenthood. Presented below are some of those statements. If you are aware others we should include, please forward them to us at STOPP. After verification, we will post them to this site.
| Most Reverend Gregory Aymond Bishop of Austin, Texas 20 April 2004 Scouting troops associated with the diocesan entities will not support, encourage or in any way endorse the activities and programs of Planned Parenthood or any other organization espousing similar beliefs and practices… Any scouting unit or troop not embracing the above directives shall not be permitted use of parish or school facilities… or indicate association with the Catholic Diocese of Austin. |
| Most Reverend Leonard Blair Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit, Michigan 8 October 2000 Last week, for “Respect Life” Sunday, I wrote about my experience of a prayer march on behalf of life. A march of this kind is a positive action to counter the practice of abortion. Today, sadly, I must share with you some negative information. As your pastor I have been greatly troubled to hear that sometimes Catholics are misled into supporting the organization known as “Planned Parenthood.” For that reason I feel compelled to provide you with the following facts:The Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the single largest abortion provider in the United States. During 1998, Planned Parenthood clinics performed 167,928 surgical abortions. At an average cost of $350 per abortion, the organization grossed $58,554,300 in abortion income (Planned Parenthood 1998-1999 Annual Report, page 9).Despite Planned Parenthood’s “choice” rhetoric, it provided adoption referrals to only 4,892 women and prenatal care to 16,065. Planned Parenthood provides 34 times more abortions than adoption referrals. It provides 10 times more abortions than prenatal services (Planned Parenthood 1998-1999 Annual Report, page 9).Planned Parenthood opposes the right of conscience – the right of Catholics and Catholic hospitals to abide by church teaching on health care issues. In an October 1999 speech outlining Planned Parenthood’s four-part agenda for the millennium, Gloria Feldt, the group’s current president, exhorted the audience to “get religious people out of medicine” (Gloria Feldt in a speech delivered at the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco, October 19,1999).Planned Parenthood operates “Teenwire,” a provocative website aimed at adolescents, which through the use of coarse and vulgar language, educates on, among other things, sex, masturbation, oral sex, contraception and abortion.In September of 2000, Planned Parenthood introduced a “Joe Sperm” costume character to children parade-goers who were attending a Eugene, Oregon city parade. Planned Parenthood admitted that the target of its campaigning featuring “Joe Sperm” is lower income people (Randi Bjornstad, “Birth Control Gets a Lighthearted Boost,” The Register-Guard, September 19, 2000).Planned Parenthood’s activity generates enormous revenue each year. During its 1999 fiscal year, the group reported a $125.8 million excess of revenue over expenses. (Planned Parenthood 1998-1999 Annual Report, pages 18-19).Planned Parenthood remains a significant beneficiary of federal money. In 1998, Congress gave Planned Parenthood and its affiliated organizations, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Alan Guttmacher Institute, $142,976,618 to support its domestic and international “family planning” agenda (Government Accounting Office, July 18, 2000 memo to members of Congress). |
| Most Rev. Fabian W. Bruskewitz Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska 1 January 1998 “The faithful are prohibited from maintaining membership in any condemned, prohibited or disapproved societies or organizations. These include … Planned Parenthood … Any members of the Diocese of Lincoln who retain membership in [Planned Parenthood] after having learned of [its] forbidden nature, are bound by an automatic interdict after the passage of one month. If after the passage of a second month, they have likewise failed to dissociate themselves from membership, they are bound by an automatic excommunication. This means they may not participate in the sacramental life of the Church, and, if their membership is public and well known, then other ecclesiastical rites may likewise be denied to them. |
| Most Rev. Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B. Archbishop of Indianapolis, Indiana 22 April 2004 Planned Parenthood is not about families, and it’s really not about choice. As the largest abortion provider in our country, Planned Parenthood is one of the primary contributors to the culture of death which is truly threatening family life and true freedom. |
| Most Rev. Robert Carlson Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota 3 January 2000 (commenting on relocation of PP abortion facility)The move of Planned Parenthood near a high school, day care and church is abhorrent and disturbing. . . [We must educate people on] what Planned Parenthood is, what it is about, what the effects of abortion are. |
| Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Archbishop of Denver, Colorado 16 March 2000 In 1991, as bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, I had personal experience with Planned Parenthood seeking to intrude itself into western South Dakota. I spoke at a STOPP national convention in Rapid City. In my talk, I noted that Planned Parenthood is “not a friend of the family … It is a pro-abortion organization with a set of values vastly different from the values of Jesus Christ. I would certainly reaffirm that conviction today.Planned Parenthood is an organization based on falsehoods about the human person, the family and community life.Planned Parenthood calls itself pro-child. When a minor comes to Planned Parenthood, she is provided information on contraception and abortion without parental notification. A minor is given materials on sexuality with an implicit message that fertility is a disease and pregnancy is to be attacked. Planned Parenthood opposes any restriction on abortion of the unborn child through nine months of pregnancy. Planned Parenthood opposes a Partial Birth Abortion Ban. In light of this, how can Planned Parenthood justify calling itself pro-child? Planned Parenthood calls itself pro-woman. Yet Planned Parenthood vigorously opposes any legislation to provide advance medical information pertaining to an abortion procedure. Planned Parenthood vigorously opposes any legislation to provide a woman seeking an abortion knowledge of her unborn child’s development. Planned Parenthood vigorously opposes any legislation to require a 24 hour waiting period before a woman has an abortion. How can Planned Parenthood justify keeping vital information on abortion away from a woman and yet call itself pro-woman? How can an organization which helps to facilitate the killing of unborn children in huge numbers call itself pro-woman? Planned Parenthood calls itself pro-family. Yet it simultaneously provides counsel for contraception and abortion under the guise of “freedom of choice.” The two questions to ask are: “choice for what and choice for whom?” Planned Parenthood vigorously opposes any law that would inform parents before a minor child receives contraception or an abortion. How can Planned Parenthood justify calling itself pro-family when it intrudes itself between a child and parent? I would urge any community today, as I did in 1991, to defend itself against Planned Parenthood by every legal and ethical means at its disposal. |
| Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Archbishop of Denver, Colorado Most Reverend Arthur N. Tafoya, D.D. Bishop of Pueblo, Colorado Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan, S.T.D. Bishop of Colorado Springs, Colorado 8 November 2007 In early November, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) broke ground on a new headquarters and clinic in northeast Denver. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains purchased this property secretly under the guise of Fuller 38 LLC. Planned Parenthood told The Denver Post that PPRM planned to complete the entire project in secrecy to avoid protests and delays that other Planned Parenthood buildings have encountered around the country. The new PPRM location is 7155 E. 38th Ave.in Denver. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2008 and the general contractor for the project is the Weitz Company LLC. The public deserves to know the facts about Planned Parenthood. The national organization is among the leading abortion providers, performing across the nation 264,943 abortion procedures in 2005 alone, a 29 percent increase since 2000. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has stated that it served 125,000 patients in five states, including Colorado, last year and of those 8,800 received abortions. Teens and young people are the primary customers for their services and information, which include the distribution of contraception, emergency contraception and chemical and surgical abortions. Nationally 70 percent of Planned Parenthood’s customers are under age 25 and 27 percent are under age 19. Furthermore, Planned Parenthood is a supplier of graphic and explicit sex educational materials. These materials are being used in some of Colorado’s public schools. Planned Parenthood calls itself pro-child, pro-woman, and pro-family. Yet it is an organization based on falsehoods about the human person, the family and community life. When a minor comes to Planned Parenthood, she is provided information on contraception, sex education and treatment of STDs without parental notification. How can Planned Parenthood justify calling itself pro-family or pro-child when it intrudes itself between a child and parent? Planned Parenthood vigorously opposes any legislation that would provide advance medical information pertaining to an abortion procedure, and opposes any legislation that would provide a woman, who is seeking an abortion, knowledge of her unborn child’s development or information regarding alternatives to abortion. Considering the psychological and physical effects of abortion on a woman, how can Planned Parenthood call itself pro-woman and oppose widespread access to advanced information?We, the Catholic bishops of Colorado, deplore the negative impact of the actions and philosophy of PPRM. We urge the Catholic community and all people of good will to defend themselves and their beliefs against Planned Parenthood by every legal and ethical means at their disposal. We ask all Catholics to pray, within their families and parish communities, that the dignity and sanctity of every human life will be upheld at all stages of development. |
| Most Rev. William E. Franklin Bishop of Davenport, Iowa October 1999 Planned Parenthood will soon be opening its clinic and performing abortions in Bettendorf. This is, indeed, sad news for all of us who proclaim to be pro-life Catholics. During this time of trial, as the Planned Parenthood clinic prepares to open in Bettendorf, please join me in prayer and action for an end to abortion. |
| Most Reverend James H. Garland Bishop of Marquette, Michigan 17 August 2001 I am saddened to learn that Planned Parenthood is attempting to open an office in Houghton. This is bad news because the anti-life values promoted by this organization will harm the youth and families of the western Upper Peninsula.The support for abortion, contraception and sexual expressions outside of marriage contributes to a society that is dangerous to children. One-third of the children who are conceived in our society today will be aborted. Another third of our children will be born into single-parent families with fathers and mothers who do not love each other enough to marry.Of the remaining one-third, 40 percent will experience a divorce of their parents before reaching adulthood. That means only one-fifth of the children conceived in this country today reach adulthood in an intact family, with a father and a mother.This is a massive rejection of children. Ours is a society that is dangerous for children.A culture of death permeates our society. It is the result of the promotion of values opposed to life, values that choose abortion as a good. This dangerous environment for children results from a contraceptive mentality that separates sexual pleasure from procreation and chooses convenience or material gain over a self-sacrificing love for the child of one’s womb who can be the joy of one’s life.What is more unnatural and evil than a mother killing the baby of her womb? When people seek to eliminate or remove children from their lives they are confusing evil with what is actually good.It was not very long ago that all Christian churches considered contraception immoral and beneath the dignity of the human person…The Catholic Church continues to hold that reason rightly understands that marriage should be open to children while contraception is beneath the dignity of the human person and abortion an assault on innocent human life in the womb.Planned Parenthood’s philosophy and actions are contrary to the law of nature and the consistent Catholic teaching about the sanctity of life. God who creates life alone has dominion over human life. The freedom of choice Planned Parenthood promotes is a choice to kill an innocent baby.The freedom of human reproduction it espouses is largely responsible for the disintegration of respect for traditional marriage. In its place we see “partnerships” and “sexual self-expression” with an aftermath of children, who are denied the nurture of a two-parent family.Planned Parenthood proclaims a view of human life and sexuality that flies in the face of the law God has written in our hearts and in the face of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel.For the future good of our children and families I hope that people in the Houghton community will defend themselves against Planned Parenthood’s philosophy and values by every legal and ethical means at their disposal.From a column in the U.P Catholic, the newspaper of the Diocese of Marquette. Portions of this commentary were also published as a letter to the editor of the Houghton, Michigan, Daily Mining Gazette |
| Most Rev. Charles V. Grahmann, DD Bishop of Dallas, Texas 8 August 1997 Anyone who supports, belongs to, [or] sits on Boards of Directors of Planned Parenthood are promoting the legacy of Margaret Sanger which is the outline for Nazi Germany’s “human weeds and genetically inferior races.”…I hope you will raise an indignant cry against this cancer in our society. |
| Most Reverend Fred Henry Bishop of Calgary, Alberta, Canada 28 August 2002 A Catholic can be forgiven for having an abortion but cannot be publicly pro-choice and work for an organization that presents abortion as an alternative…There is no “wiggle room” when it comes to the abortion issue in the Roman Catholic Church…I stand by the priest’s decision not to marry a southern Alberta woman employed by Planned Parenthood…No Catholic can responsibly take a pro-choice stand when the choice in question involves the taking of innocent human life…The whole Planned Parenthood agenda is not in accordance with the teaching of the Catholic Church. And consequently, if a Roman Catholic is going to work for them, then they have to be prepared to accept the consequences of that decision. |
| Most Reverend John F. Kinney Bishop of St. Cloud, Minnesota 23 March 2001 It is wonderful to see so many of you gathered here today as a visible statement of how we in St. Cloud feel about Planned Parenthood opening a clinic in our midst. If you saw the articles in the St. Cloud Visitor and St. Cloud Times, you are aware of my displeasure over this clinic. One of the basic principles of the Catholic Church is the sacredness of human life. We cannot sit still when there is even a hint of destruction of that life. When Pope John Paul II visited the United States and spoke to the youth in Denver, he challenged them with the following: “America, you must come out of your comfortable lifestyles now and you must come out into the streets and into the public places and you must shout the Gospel of Life from the rooftop. Do not be afraid. Jesus Christ is with you.” I echo that simple message of the pope’s here today. We must come out into the streets, as you are doing this evening, and we must be a voice for those who have no voice. You are that voice. I hope you will continue to be that voice and will spread your message to others in our community. I firmly believe that St. Cloud is a community that strongly supports the dignity of life at all stages, but we must always do so peacefully and non-violently. We cannot be afraid to make our voices heard. We cannot be afraid to shout the Gospel of Life. Thank you for all you are doing. God bless you. From a statement made at a peaceful rally at the site of a new Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Cloud, Minnesota |
| Very Rev. William J. Levada Archbishop of San Francisco, California 1 March 2000 The Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the largest promoter of abortion in the United States. Through their extensive sex education programs and their teen website, teenwire.com, PPFA targets youth and young adults, educating them that any and all forms of sexual expression are not only valid but encouraged.Not only is Planned Parenthood responsible for countless abortions, leaving so many women hurting after the loss of their children, the organization is largely responsible for our culture’s disintegrating respect for traditional marriage in exchange for “partnerships” and “sexual self-expression.” The goals of Planned Parenthood are made painfully clear in the statement of Gloria Feldt, as quoted in the Washington Times, January 22, 1997, “Reproductive choices (including abortion) are not just legal rights but are recognized as moral necessities without which there can be no liberty.” |
| Very Rev. Roger Mahony Archbishop of Los Angeles, California 23 February 2000 From its inception, in philosophy and actions, Planned Parenthood has been contrary to Catholic teaching about the sanctity of life and its origin in the heart and mind of God. |
| Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell Bishop of Buffalo, New York 13 August 2000 “We’re not proceeding, because of the contractor’s involvement with Planned Parenthood,” said Monsignor Henry J. Gugino, head of housing development for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, New York. The comment was made as the diocese, at the direction of its bishop, halted construction on a $4.6 million dollar home for seniors in Wheatfield, N.Y., when it found out the contractor was also building offices for Planned Parenthood. Bishop Henry J. Mansell’s spokesman, Monsignor David M. Lee, said the bishop and other diocesan officials decided to put the project on hold because of “moral concerns.” |
| Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 18 September 2000 In my work as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, I am particularly charged with the Archdiocese’s outreach to other Christians and to members of other religious faiths. Some of the differences within the religious family are not completely surprising, but I find particularly sad the division over the need to uphold the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. In addition, it is very painful to discover that self-professed men and women of faith sit on Planned Parenthood Boards or raise funds for Planned Parenthood’s assault on God’s plan for humanity. In my ecumenical and interreligious work, the division among religious people over something as seemingly self-evident as the sanctity of life often makes it hard to motivate Catholics to imitate Pope John Paul II’s brilliant efforts to fulfill Jesus’ prayer: “That all may be one.” (John 17) |
| Fr. Paul B. Marx, OSB Founder, Human Life International Letter to STOPP 4 December 2000Having traveled in more than 90 countries of the world and seen Planned Parenthood’s vicious anti-life/anti-family/anti-God evil propaganda and destruction, I know of no more wicked organization, no more insidious one, no more destructive one. |
| Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, S.T.D. Bishop of Worcester, Massachusetts 10 October 2007 The moral teaching of the Catholic Church on respect for life at all stages of its development is manifestly clear. Life is a fundamental good that must be protected and respected from the moment of fertilization to natural death. This teaching is so basic and important that it provides the foundation upon which much of the Church’s moral and social doctrine rests. It is beyond modification and compromise. Both Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice are notorious for their policies and practices that directly reject the Church’s teaching on artificial contraception and abortion. |
| Most Rev. Dale J. Melczek Bishop of Gary, Indiana 6 March 2000 I wish to commend and encourage STOPP International for all that you do to promote the dignity of every human person, made in the image and likeness of God. I am also grateful for your efforts in promoting respect for marriage and a greater awareness of our destiny with God and each other in life eternal. These teachings on the value and dignity of human life and marriage are deeply rooted in the Scriptures and our Judaic-Christian tradition. You provide a great service to society in exposing the truth about the philosophy and practices of Planned Parenthood. In its promotion of abortions and artificial contraceptives, it is rejecting the culture of light and life and leading society down a path of darkness and death.May God bless your work advocating respect for God-given life from conception until natural death and in encouraging people in our society to be open to God’s plan in the transmission and respect for our greatest natural gift: life itself. |
| Very Rev. John J. O’Connor Archbishop of New York, New York 19 January 1995 Planned Parenthood has a history of distorting the truth. On October 3, 1980 it ran an advertisement in the New York Times with the headline: “There Is A Group That Would Sooner See You Dead Than Allow You An Abortion.” Another Times ad on October 5, 1980 was headlined: “There Is A Group That Would Force You To Bear Your Rapist’s Child.” And, on January 5 [1995] Planned Parenthood ran a full-page ad in the Times insinuating that pro-life people are terrorists and provocateurs. These claims are, of course, nonsense. In addition to lies about pro-lifers, Planned Parenthood also distorts the truth about itself. It claims to be “pro-choice” while fighting against informed consent legislation that would ensure women are told the truth about abortion. I find it difficult to take any Planned Parenthood claim seriously. |
| Most Reverend Fremiot Torres Oliver Bishop of Ponce, Puerto Rico 18 February 2000 Planned Parenthood’s record over the years leaves no room for any doubt whatsoever regarding its ideological stance on human life and family issues. It is a stance diametrically opposed to Christian truth regarding the sanctity of each human life from the moment of conception onward, the unbreakable God-given bond between the unitive and procreative purposes of sexual activity, and the unique role of monogamous, heterosexual marriage as the only legitimate context of genital expression. More than any other single organized group today, Planned Parenthood International represents the hedonism and moral relativism which are fueling that “culture of death” which Pope John Paul II has warned against and denounced throughout his pontificate. I warmly endorse and support the efforts of STOPP to counteract the influence and activity of this evil organization. |
| Fr. Frank Pavone National Director Priests for Life 18 April 2000 The clergy of our nation have a particular responsibility to steer their people away from both the philosophy and the practices of Planned Parenthood. Simply put, a Catholic should have nothing to do with this organization. As the largest single source of abortions in our nation, Planned Parenthood bears responsibility for much of the grief and pain we see in post-abortion counseling. Both on a national and international level, Planned Parenthood proclaims a view of human life and sexuality that could hardly be more foreign to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. |
| The Most Revered Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, DD Bishop of the San Angelo diocese in Texas 31 March 2009 Planned Parenthood is a huge business, and a major part of this business is the killing of unborn children, aborting 290,000 babies in 2007. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the single largest abortion provider in the United States and does this with the help of more than $336 million in taxpayer funding. Americans need to know that Planned Parenthood still bases its philosophy and principles on its founder, Margaret Sanger, who called Christianity “parasitic” and looked forward to the day when humanity would be freed from its tyranny. |
| Robert J. Spitzer, S.J. President Gonzaga University 14 April 2000 I denied Planned Parenthood access to this campus not because of what they say, but because of what they do. They are one of the largest abortion providers in the United States and have an aggressive political agenda to promote this. The Catholic Church interprets abortion as “the killing of an innocent.” According to this interpretation, I consider Planned Parenthood’s actions to be blatantly contrary to the Catholic and Jesuit character of the University and to its mission.Our Guest Speakers Policy states, “The President reserves the right to deny usage of Gonzaga’s facilities to any person or groups of persons whose values are blatantly contrary to those of the University or whose presence would, for some reason, seriously embarrass or compromise the University.” In as much as Gonzaga is a Catholic and Jesuit University, and Planned Parenthood’s actions are blatantly contrary to this Catholic and Jesuit identity, I exercised my right as President to deny usage of Gonzaga’s facilities to them. |
| Most Rev. John G. Viazny Archbishop of Portland in Oregon 25 April 2008 Frankly, too many of our people, including Catholics, fail to understand the disingenuous approach of PPFA in promoting its cause. I fear that many of our Catholic people have been taken in by the propaganda. Did you know, for example, that PPFA is the single largest abortion provider in the United States? … Even though PPFA representatives claim an interest in reducing abortions, at the same time they advocate unrestricted access to abortion … “Freedom of choice” apparently is not worth supporting when people disagree with PPFA. The right of conscience for doctors and nurses morally opposed to abortion is skirted by PPFA. When the government states it will not force health professionals to violate their medical and moral judgment on abortion, PPFA objects with the bizarre claim that such a policy “intrudes on private, personal medical decision-making.”When tragedies occur, PPFA is quite selective in its efforts to help victims. For example, when many people lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attack, the January 2006 SEGO Mine disaster, and Hurricane Katrina, PPFA offered relief to the survivors in the form of free birth control and abortions. That’s a rather restricted agenda, to say the least.Do we really want to welcome such activities in our community? PPFA supporters are not comfortable when conversations are focused on the culture of death in today’s society. PPFA is a major contributor to the spread of that culture. If we keep silent and stand on the sidelines, this dark force will continue to spread and eventually destroy not only the lives of the unborn but even the moral fiber of our nation.I urge all our Catholic people and friends to express their opposition to our city leaders about the proposed PPFA project on MLK Jr. Boulevard in Portland. The so-called “health and education services” to be provided in that facility would only destroy more human lives and promote promiscuous behavior on the part of young people. The time for saying “no” to PPFA in our community is now. |
| Most Rev. John W. Yanta Bishop of Amarillo, Texas 1 October 1998 As your bishop and shepherd, I ask all Catholics not to use Planned Parenthood’s services, not to belong to any of their boards, not to serve as a volunteer and not to be employed there. In resigning your employment there, I will be happy to assist you in finding employment elsewhere so you will not be cooperating in these immoral practices and being a source of scandal both within and outside the Church and community. I make this plea, in love, as my duty to continue the mission of Jesus Christ: to teach, to sanctify and to govern. |