by Patricia Pitkus Bainbridge, Director, Respect Life Office
Who are the real extremists?
As Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood continues to challenge Planned Parenthood’s presence in Aurora, Planned Parenthood—in typical fashion without credible reason— has resorted to calling its many adversaries “extremists.”
Closely following the Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s (PPFA) playbook, Planned Parenthood Action Illinois claims, “Anti-choice extremists have made the opening of our health center in Aurora a battlefield in the war on choice.” Perhaps they forgot they were the ones who initiated the controversy.
In reacting to Judge Charles Norgle’s September 20th ruling that the Aurora facility must remain closed (at least temporarily), Cecile Richards, president of PPFA, commented, “Today’s ruling is a disappointment and will only serve to encourage the campaign of harassment and intimidation being waged by anti-choice extremists against health care providers and their patients nationwide.” If Judge Norgle eventually rules in Planed Parenthood’s favor, Richards most likely will refer to him as fair-minded.” If, however, he rules against them, he will be called an “extremist.”
Pro-life individuals —including those dedicated women and men who provide practical assistance to women and their babies at pregnancy care centers are portrayed by PP as “anti-choice extremists” and “people who impose their extremist morality on others.” Pro-life organizations are described as “radical right extremist groups.”
I have yet to find a Planned Parenthood website anywhere in the U.S. that does not refer to pro-lifers as “anti-choice extremists.”
The pejorative term is not reserved for pro-lifers, however. Even those who are marginally pro-life or those who do not support any portion of Planned Parenthood’s agenda may be labeled as “extremists.” Anyone who disagrees with its worldview or its agenda is portrayed as an “extremist.”
Judges who fail to rule in Planned Parenthood’s favor are termed “extremist judges”; one was actually called an “extremist cockamamie judge.” Pro-life legislators and even legislators who are opposed to only some abortions are referred to as “anti-family planning extremists” or “Congressional anti-choice extremists.”
The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Pediatricians, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, the Catholic Medical Association, the Christian Medical and Dental Association, the Medical Institute for Sexual Health, the National Association of Pro-Life Nurses, and Pharmacists for Life are dubbed “extremist so-called medical organizations.”
Planned Parenthood’s definition of “extremist” apparently includes “any person, group, or organization that still believes in traditional morality including a recognition that unfettered sexual behavior and killing the pre-born is wrong.” In contrast, the American Heritage Dictionary defines “extremist” as holding views that “deviate drastically and fundamentally from conventional or traditional beliefs.”
In light of this definition, which views do you think most people would find extreme: A view (held by PP) that proclaims there are no rights or wrongs with any sexual activity as long as it is consensual or a view (held by pro-lifers) that sexual behavior should be reserved for marriage? A view (held by PP) that abortion (even partial birth abortion) should be legal for any or for no reason at any time during pregnancy or a view (held by pro-lifers) that innocent human life in the womb must be protected and that women facing untimely pregnancy are better served by keeping their babies with practical help from the community or by placing their children for adoption? A view (held by PP) that parents have no right to be informed if their minor daughter seeks an abortion or a view (held by pro-lifers) that parents have a right to know if their minor children are seeking an abortion?
Let us never forget that it is Planned Parenthood—in its unrelenting attacks on traditional beliefs— that has been working diligently for the last 90 years to change the way society views human sexuality and ensuring that abortion is not only legal, but widely available with absolutely no restrictions. It is Planned Parenthood and its apologists who continue to chip away at parental rights and attempt to force moral relativism on our children.
And, it is Planned Parenthood and its apologists that are the real extremists.
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