From Archbishop Chaput’s recent column.
The day after Governor Ritter’s speech, Denver’s Channel 9 reported that he “would take steps to allow organizations such as Planned Parenthood to get state funding again if they can prove state money isn’t used to fund abortions [emphasis added].” Mr. Ritter ran as a pro-life candidate and has always stated that he opposes abortion. As he begins his public service, it’s reasonable to believe him. The new governor has been engaged and active in his Catholic faith for many years, and remains so.
Nonetheless, it’s very hard to reconcile anyone who is “pro-life” with any support for Planned Parenthood and its destructive record.
In the opening weeks of his first term, Governor Ritter has a right to be taken at his word. He also has a responsibility to show Coloradans what he means. What his words do actually mean will become clear in the demands he places on Planned Parenthood for proof that state funds truly are segregated from abortion services and don’t materially support the killing of unborn children. As Vincent Carroll implied in his Jan. 12 Rocky Mountain News column, that will be a difficult task, if not impossible.
We urge the governor to reconsider pursuing this bad policy, and failing that, at a minimum, to be rigorous in the controls he places on state funding for family-planning services. No unborn child should be forced to die as a result of this flawed policy — precisely for the sake of the future “of our children and our children’s children.”
There was some question previously about the scheduling of a Inauguration Mass at Holy Ghost Parish for the governor by Diogenes. This Mass occurred on Jan 9th of this year and some wondered about this considering Archbishops’ Chaput previous column about pro-abortion politicians receiving Communion. Dom latter took up the same topic and the rather perplexing statement by the diocesan communications directory on this.
Gov Ritter did run "as being strongly pro-life" with the typical "I am pro-life as a matter of personal faith" Cuomo defense and the rape, incest, and life of the mother exemptions. He also basically stated that he would pretty much do nothing as far as state laws go until Roe v. Wade is overturned, except veto any bills that passes a ban. Of course the life of the mother exemption creates a hole so wide that – well an abortion doctor could easily drive his RV through it and perform an abortion.
I was also thinking about the term pro-abortion politician and how it really needs to be expanded. We now have pro-abortion, pro-embryonic stem-cell research, and pro-euthanasia politicians. Pro-death isn’t really accurate and it is hard to think of a term more inline with the wide variety of issues regarding life. Calling them Culture of Death Politicians is pretty accurate, but it doesn’t exactly roll off your tongue or keyboard. COD politicians, probably won’t catch on either. Though truly we can say of these politicians In COD we trust. They really do believe that all the issues relating to the Culture Of Death are going to improve and help mankind for the most part. Promises, promises. You of course remember how contraception and abortion helped marriages and every child became "a wanted child." You also are sure to remember how dignified Terri Schiavo became when she at last was given the chance to be dehydrated to death. Plus with all the state funding of ESCR you also remember people like the late Christopher Reeve’s standing up and walking like Sen. Edwards said would happen. Though maybe COD would be a good term. Instead of snake oil we now get all the exaggerated promises of COD oil.
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My memory is fading and the full rationale was never laid out but this seems similar ro the SF charities arrangement with the adoption agency that billed itself as aggressively placing children in homosexual settings. SF charities funds 3 full time workers in the workplace of the adoption agency to handle some matters which frees up their staff to place children which fits with their “gay” ideology. It appears the governor is using the same approach to place himself in a win-win political stance. I don’t accept or understand this as the practical effect is obvious. However, i must be missing something as the SF diocese and the congregation for the faith said o.k. I still would like an explanation but guess I’ll never get one.
Thats like saying we’ll give state funds to the KKK as long as they can prove none of the money was used to discriminate.
Besides, giving money to designated funds (in this case non abortive use) just frees up dollars from the general operating fund that can be used to murder. Its 6 of one half dozen of another.
I only recently heard of this Mass. Though the rumour I heard was that AB Chaput did not know of this Mass until a reported called him for a comment about it.
Lords of Death would be accurate for the pro-death pols.
Exactly what “good” services does Planned Parenthood provide anyway that is so important for the state to help fund?
That’s easy Planned Parenthood makes sure that our nation’s supply of life-long regret and nightmarish misery is always full.
It’s a choice until you realize what you chose and then all the money in the world could never take it back.
The reason the question about whether or not the funding for Planned Parenthood goew towards abortions is brought up is because it is against Colorado law for state money to subsidize abortions. As for the inauguration mass issue, I think that this article from todays Rocky Mountain News sums it up pretty well: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5284274,00.html
I dunno; “Pro-Death” works for me.
What good does Planned Parenthood provide? PEACE OF MIND. No kidding, that’s what it says on their website for Planned Parenthood EXPRESS!!!
Once upon a time, I think they were involved with women’s health, as in check-ups, mammograms, etc. Now i think the only good thing they do is to offer HIV/STD testing, which can be obtained in a more trustworthy setting. Therefore, I can’t think of a single reason to support that organization.
Joanne,
Planned Parenthood was founded by Margaret Sanger to promote eugenics (i.e. the weeding out of the “unfit” via contraception, sterilization and abortion). They do try to cover themselves with an aura of “women’s health” but the nasty stuff has always been lurking right behind it.