Pro-life group rebukes Planned Parenthood for sending birth control to Haiti

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Comments: 12

Haitian earthquake victims receiving medical care. Credit: Katie Orlinsky, Caritas.

Front Royal, Va., Jan 21, 2010 / 08:31 pm (CNA).- Following the horrific earthquake in Haiti last week, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) launched a campaign to provide what they call “emergency and basic health services” to victims in the country. But according to Douglas Scott, “Planned Parenthood looks at emergency birth control the same way most people view food, water and shelter.”

“Planned Parenthood will use any excuse to ask for money, even when doing so is ridiculous,” said Douglas R. Scott, president of Life Decisions International (LDI).“What the people of Haiti need is food, water, clothing, and shelter. They do not need anything that Planned Parenthood has to offer.”

According to the IPPF website, in addition to “essential basic and primary healthcare” they are also working to provide “specialist maternity and sexual and reproductive health services.” IPPF argued that an increased vulnerability of women to HIV infection and sexual exploitation often follows natural disasters and that “many women lose access to family planning services, exposing them to unwanted pregnancy, and, in cases of rape, access to emergency contraception and counseling.”

IPPF has also sent out thousands of letters asking for donations to rebuild its clinics in Haiti which were destroyed by the Jan. 12 earthquake.

But Scott countered, “Planned Parenthood's deadly network wants to provide 'sexual and reproductive health to people affected by the disaster. While there are many organizations offering essential healthcare to the people of Haiti, Planned Parenthood wants to be sure that this includes birth control and abortion.”

Scott also stated that “This is kind of self-serving opportunism is common for Planned Parenthood.”

According to Scott, after the fall of the Romanian dictator in 1989, Planned Parenthood donated $22,000 to the country to buy abortion equipment and coordinated an airlift of 40,000 condoms. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the organization offered a free week of “reproductive health care” which Scott claims U.S. taxpayers helped underwrite. After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Planned Parenthood allegedly raised money to provide “essential medication” and “bare necessities” which consisted of a few months supply of birth control pills and emergency birth control kits, says Scott.

“Planned Parenthood looks at emergency birth control the same way most people view food, water and shelter,” Scott remarked. “And why do I think that not one person left homeless by a disaster was concerned about birth control?”

“I hate to sound cynical, but I am … and my cynicism is based on experience,” the LDI president said.

“What better fund-raising tool is there than a photograph of desperate men, women and children who had been devastated by an earthquake? Planned Parenthood routinely uses natural disasters to raise money, but it addresses not one true need. When people are standing outside with a hand stretched out, they do not expect someone to put a condom or birth control pill in it. Planned Parenthood officials should be ashamed,” he added.

CNA attempted to contact IPPF's headquarters in London but did not receive a reply.

Comments: 12

Subscriber comments:

Published by: J. Brower
Poulsbo, WA, USA 04/26/2010 02:09 PM EST

Once again the pro-life community shows it true stripes by protesting the provision of birth control.

Published by: Tony
Norman, OK 01/31/2010 05:02 AM EST

The heartbreaking images and stories from Haiti reveal a country that has been so poorly governed and so overpopulated that a new course of action must occur. Birth control, infrastructure, education, economic investment...Hopefully a leader will emerge with a vision that will bring this nation the quality of life they so deserve. How can such poverty and overpopulation go unnoticed and go unchanged for so long?

Published by: John
Kitchener, Ontario 01/26/2010 02:23 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

Considering Haiti's poverty and third world, or fourth world status as a nation, they desperately need birth control more than anything else. They can't feed or educate the people they have now, yet their population keeps growing like a cancer. They have the highest birth rate in the western hemisphere which is a dire statistic. Human life is NOT sacred, it's just life, and humans can overpopulate just as rodents can. Mass vasectomies would be the best action plan for Haiti as the men seem to have no control and the women suffer.

Published by: Stephanie
USA 01/24/2010 04:23 PM EST

What Haiti doesn't need is more ignorant religious people wasting money proselytizing to them.

Published by: Ben Hiney
Chicago, IL 01/24/2010 03:02 PM EST

There is nothing more important to the people of Haiti than birth control. It needs to dealt with before more orphans are born to needy women. This disaster would not be near as bad if the country had more money per person. When all these people do is have sex and have more babies with no means to support a child, let alone several children, what should we expect. The catholic church should be, but won't be, ashamed of their tunnel vision and opinions. I don't think for a moment that Jesus would look at Haiti prior to the quake and say "Boy what these people need is a few more kids" But this is just what the church needs in order to keep their membership numbers up. Haiti is overpopulated. What the Haitian women need are jobs that pay livable wages to take care of themselves and their existing children, if they want to improve their chances for a good life, birth control is essential. I agree with Ron, "if they want to perpetuate their misery, then I would continue to take the advice of the Catholic church whose interests are not the interests of the people". I would like to donate to real birth control, not necessarily abortion but I would not rule it out either. People will have sex whether the religious right wants them to or not. In fact these same right minded people are having sex, unprotected and protected, while they are waving the abstinent banner around. Let us be compassionate and really help these Haitians begin to live productive lives, like Jesus would!

Published by: Audrey
Vista, CA USA 01/23/2010 03:33 PM EST

Where's the birth control?! That was one of my first questions when viewing all these poor homeless children on TV. Why on Earth have more when you can't feed and clothe the ones you have. Way to go Planned Parenthood - I think birth control's a great idea and an issue that should be addressed when putting Haiti back together for the better.

Published by: bobby
los angeles 01/22/2010 09:50 PM EST

they don't need anything that religion has to offer with its stupid views on preventing unwanted pregnancy. because to christians, every pregnancy is desired, as it increases the number of followers. haiti does not have the infrastructure to support more people. population has to DECLINE.

Published by: Pablo
Chicago/IL/USA 01/22/2010 04:46 PM EST

Mr. Felon Falls Canada, I don't think abortion or birth control are the issues in your mind. You write in the fashion of bitter fall-away Catholics. When you can't live the way you think, you think the way you live. Probably not the first time that saying has been directed at you. Go to confession and free yourself. God Bless you and I'll pray for you.

Published by: Eva
Washington, D.C. 01/22/2010 04:46 PM EST

People left homeless are most definitely concerned about birth control, especially now. Rape is common in temporary living areas following disasters, and right now, when resources are non-existent and basic things, like clean water, are not accessible, preventing pregnancy is a basic survival mechanism.

Published by: McGuire
Minneapolis, MN 01/22/2010 03:01 PM EST

Dear Mr. Ron Hayashi: The best thing I can do for you is to pray that the Good Lord turn your heart . . . or your ankle. I’m good with either. “The greatest threat to world peace is abortion!!!” - Mother Teresa A.McGuire ad majorem Dei gloriam

Published by: Jody
Tallahassee, Florida 01/22/2010 02:24 PM EST

Artificial contraception is not in Haiti's best interests. What they need is support and assistance to meet their physical needs (food, shelter, clothing). Then, their spiritual needs must be met. And, there must be an operable government in place to provide for the common good of Haiti's people. I have seen no emergency response personnel in any of the pictures of Haiti's devastation.

Published by: Ron Hayashi
Fenelon Fall Canada 01/22/2010 11:39 AM EST

Rate: Very Good

There is nothing more important to the people of Haiti than birth control. It's one thing to deal with their immediate needs after a disaster. It's just as important to look at the long term situation. Haiti is overpopulated. There are insufficient resources and jobs to look after basic needs. People have to live within their means and, in Haiti, those means includes the land and resource where they live. If Haitians want to improve their chances for a good life, birth control is essential. If they want to perpetuate their misery, then I would continue to take the advice of the Catholic church whose interests are not the interests of the people.

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