The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Standing with conservative legislators, a group of clergy declared "war" on Planned Parenthood and urged Gov. Bob McDonnell and other top Virginia Republicans to aid their crusade.
At a news conference Thursday, members of the Virginia Christian Alliance asked lawmakers to strip Planned Parenthood of any state funding.
They object to abortions provided by the health care organization, which they say promotes promiscuity and targets minorities to terminate pregnancies.
Dean Nelson accused Planned Parenthood of "unethical, immoral and racist practices," including ethnic genocide of blacks and other minorities.
Nelson, executive director for the Network of Politically Active Christians, dubbed the group "Clan Parenthood," saying it locates clinics in minority communities.
"Planned Parenthood is committed to equality, and our doors are open to everyone," countered Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia director Jessica Honke after the news conference.
"Moreover, Planned Parenthood is a firm opponent of all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including racism."
Honke said most health services offered by Planned Parenthood are not abortions.
Efforts to defund the group aren't new in Virginia.
For years legislators have waged this campaign - among them Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli while he was a member of the state Senate - as has The Family Foundation.
But the fight could take on greater prominence now because McDonnell has pledged to go after any state money Planned Parenthood receives.
In addition to objecting to Planned Parenthood's abortion services, opponents ascribed "malevolent" motives to the group.
Prince William County Republican Del. Bob Marshall said the group has promoted irresponsible attitudes toward intercourse that have led to the proliferation of venereal diseases.
"This organization should be called 'Planned Barrenhood,' because they have nothing to do with families," he said. "They have nothing to do with responsibility."
Marshall has filed a budget amendment that would block the state from sending any money to the group.
Setting aside political considerations, one challenge is determining how much state money goes to the organization.
Marshall estimates the sum is "about $500,000 a year."
But the Department of Medical Assistance Services indicates it spent just over $35,000 in fiscal 2009 in reimbursement payments for medical services provided at Planned Parenthood facilities.
Honke says the only money her group gets is from those payments. Planned Parenthood also received state dollars for a grant program in 2008.
Some of the difficulty, officials said, is parsing state and federal Medicaid dollars.
This much is clear: Government funds can be spent on abortions if a doctor determines the life or health of a pregnant woman is in danger.
Medicaid dollars funded 138 abortions in Virginia during 2008, according to the Department of Medical Assistance Services.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
what happened to seperation
what happened to seperation of church and state? why do conservatives feel they can shove their opinions down people's throats and use derogatory comments while doing so? who votes for these people & why? it is pure ignorance to just see abortion as the only service planned parenthood provides.
More comments from Del. Marshall
This was unfortunately left out of the Pilot article. According to the Newsleader in Shenandoah: "RICHMOND — State Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas says disabled children are God's punishment to women who have aborted their first pregnancy. He made that statement Thursday at a press conference to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood.
"The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children," said Marshall, a Republican.
"In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There's a special punishment Christians would suggest."
I wonder if all of the women in Del. Marshall's district who are raising children with disabilities consider them to be a "punishment from God"? I also wonder if they appreciate him "accusing" them all of having had an abortion in the past?
Planned Parenthood services
Planned Parenthood provides valuable health care services to women and men, including pap smears, prenatal care, and birth control. Additionally, they provide educational services about how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases-educational services which have helped to save thousands of lives. To say that Planned Parenthood is immoral and racist is ludicrous. Just the opposite is true - by providing the education and medical services that they do, they give minorities a voice in their own health care and the choice to plan their families when they are best able to provide for them. For too many years, minorities did not have a voice or a choice in controlling their bodies or their lives. Now this so-called Christian organization wants to silence the voices of minorities again and take away their rights to make choices, thereby enslaving them all over again. Now tell me, who is the racist here?
be careful Bob
I would advise McDonnell to be careful. Planned Parenthood could hit the state with a lawsuit and win. Deservingly so.
No money for planned parenthood but
Plenty to keep people on Government assistance? It doesn't make sense.
We can't afford schooling, roads, or our jails, but cutting a program that lightens the burden on society is a good idea?
Hmmm ... interesting concept if we were a cult I guess.
Ideology at large
Bob Marshall should determine facts prior to making estimates. It is readily apparant that this outfit has absolutely no interest in the health or safety of the mother, or the actual functions of Planned Parenthood. It is only concerned with making it's Mantra of "It has to do with sex, so it must be WRONG" into Sharia law, .