US Bishops Respond to Planned Parenthood Videos
Reach out to those who could be experiencing ‘revived trauma from their own
involvement in abortion
By Kathleen Naab
Washington, D.C., July 30,
2015
The Center for Medical Progress released today its fourth video exposing
Planned Parenthood’s use of fetal tissue, with the results of its investigation
attracting growing national and international attention.
On Wednesday, the chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life
Activities released a brief statement about the videos. Cardinal Seán
O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, cited Pope Francis’ teaching on abortion and
said that the heart of the current public controversy should be that both
abortion and the obtaining of fetal tissue through abortion are an attack on
human dignity.
“Pope Francis has called abortion the product of a ‘widespread mentality of
profit, the throwaway culture, which has today enslaved the hearts and minds of
so many,’” the cardinal said.
“The recent news stories concerning Planned Parenthood direct our attention
to two larger issues involving many institutions in our society,” he added.
“The first is abortion itself: a direct attack on human life in its most
vulnerable condition. The second is the now standard practice of obtaining
fetal organs and tissues through abortion. Both actions fail to respect the
humanity and dignity of human life. This fact should be the center of attention
in the present public controversy.”
As well, Cardinal O’Malley reached out to those who might be experiencing
“revived trauma” due to the videos, which show graphic conversations and images
from abortion.
His statement says: “If the Planned Parenthood news coverage has caused
anyone to experience revived trauma from their own involvement in abortion, be
assured that any and all persons will be welcomed with compassion and
assistance through the Church’s post-abortion healing ministry, Project Rachel.
If you or someone you know would like confidential, nonjudgmental help, please
visit www.projectrachel.com.”
Backlash
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Superior Court issued an order prohibiting the
Center for Medical Progress from releasing any video of three high-ranking Stem
Express officials. Stem Express is a company that provides fetal tissue to
researchers.
But David Daleiden, the director of the Center for Medical Progress, told
Life Site news that the ruling only concerns one specific meeting, and is
contingent pending further litigation.
"The judge actually threw out completely the part of Stem Express'
case where they were asking to suppress the documents on their baby parts
sales,” he said. "It was a much better day for us than it was for them and
Planned Parenthood."
Politico reported that a public relations group apparently hired by Planned
Parenthood to help deal with the fallout from the videos sent out a memo to
media on Monday requesting that the videos not be covered.
The video released today, the fourth of about a dozen, has so-far received
little media attention. A CNN article today about Planned Parenthood was about
the abortion provider’s web site, which has apparently been hacked.
Americans United for Life is collecting signatures to get President Barack
Obama to order the attorney general to investigate Planned Parenthood: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/order-attorney-general-investigate-planned-parenthoods-sale-aborted-baby-parts-2.
