$300 million in subsidies for abortionists challenged

$300 million in subsidies for abortionists challenged
Christians cite pending case against Planned Parenthood

Many of the nation's most influential Christian organizations, including Focus on the Family American Family Association, Concerned Women for America, the Catholic League and Eagle Forum, are asking Congress to suspend the estimated $300 million annual federal subsidy to abortion industry leader Planned Parenthood.

A letter has been dispatched to all members of Congress citing the 107 pending criminal charges against Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, which alleged abortionists there not only provided illegal late-term abortions in violation of state law, but also failed to determine the viability of the babies before the abortions.

"Planned Parenthood operates around 860 facilities around the country, and there are approximately 40 states with laws banning late term abortions. This illegal conduct may be happening all over the country," the letter said.

WND reported earlier on the charges against Planned Parenthood, charges for which Johnston Country District Judge James Vano found probable cause.

"This is the first step in obtaining justice for the preborn children and finally putting abortions and the abortion cartel behind bars," said Troy Newman, of Operation Rescue. "This is vindication for the pro-life movement and all the work that pro-lifers have done throughout the years to expose the lies and criminal activities of the likes of Planned Parenthood."

His organization has been lobbying for, and providing evidence about, criminal charges against abortionists for an extended period in Kansas. Operation Rescue also is part of an effort in Kansas to seat a grand jury to look into possible additional charges, since the pending criminal counts stem from only a few individual abortion cases in a single year.

He said he expects other investigations in other jurisdictions now to result. "We're going to be demanding it," he told WND. "If you don't comport with national Planned Parenthood policies … you're not a Planned Parenthood."

"The undersigned organizations request the immediate suspension of Planned Parenthood's federal funding until it can be determined whether the organization violated state and/or federal laws," the letter, sent to all members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate this week, said.

"While Planned Parenthood claims that it does not perform late-term abortions after 22 weeks, the charges were reviewed by a Johnson County, Kansas district judge who found probable cause," the letter said.

"These are substantive charges levied against Planned Parenthood. States have passed laws on late-term abortions because they are detrimental to women as well as babies. Women are often not informed that late-term abortions increase the likelihood of severe blood loss, damage to vital organs, later premature births and loss of fertility."

The counts were filed by Kansas District Attorney Phill Kline, who posted a statement he would not be commenting on the case.

The corporation has been ordered to appear in court on Nov. 16, and if convicted on all counts could face more than $2.5 million in potential fines, officials said.

WND attempts to obtain a comment from Planned Parenthood were unsuccessful. But Peter Brownlie, the organization's president, told the Associated Press earlier he'd heard nothing about the charges.

"We always provide high-quality care in full accord with state and federal law," he told AP.

"Taxpayers should not be forced to fund an organization that is under criminal indictment for operating outside the law," said Newman.

Newman earlier noted such counts make it "reasonable to have concern that others are also violating the law."

The Planned Parenthood corporation was accused of 23 felonies and 84 misdemeanors for submitting false information to the government, committing illegal abortions and failing to determine viability for late-term abortions.

"Abortion clinics are the most unregulated, unaccountable places in the United States. It is inappropriate for Planned Parenthood to receive millions of dollars of taxpayer's money when it is unclear if they are following the law," said Newman. "Immediate emergency suspension of their funding is essential to insure the health and safety of women and unborn babies that deserve the protection of the law."

Columnist Robert Novak said the effort "opens a new front in the endless abortion wars. … The offensive against abortion now takes dead aim at Planned Parenthood…"

He noted that abortion has ripped apart Kansas' dominant Republican Party, with Kline at the heart of the issue. Kline won passage of abortion-limiting legislating during eight years in the state legislature, and then when he was elected attorney general in 2002 targeted investigations into the industry.

"That industry pumped an estimated $1.5 million in the 2006 campaign of Paul Morrison, the pro-choice Republican Johnson County district attorney who turned Democratic to run against Kline… Badly outspent, Kline relied on an old-fashioned handshaking campaign and was swamped at the polls," Novak wrote.

But Morrison, who had been elected Johnson County DA as a Republican, was replaced in the local office by Republicans, who chose Kline.

"Whether or not prosecutors can be found to seek Kline-type indictments around the country, antiabortion strategists are targeting Planned Parenthood and its 860 facilities nationwide. Concerned Women for America and other pro-life organizations signed this week's letter to Congress asking for suspension of the federal funding that amounts to about one-third of the organization's budget," Novak wrote.

Also making Kansas the focal point of the abortion battle is the pending criminal case against Wichita late-term abortionist George Tiller. Kline had filed criminal counts against him before he left office, but those were dropped by Morrison, who replaced them with lesser charges stemming from Kline's investigation.

That case is just beginning its travels through the court system, but includes similar allegations to those leveled against Planned Parenthood.

And a further case is being sought against Tiller, after a woman testified before a state legislative committee that she was sold an abortion at Tiller's Wichita business before signing medical permissions forms, and without any determination on the baby's viability.

"People have a right to expect that the laws enacted by their representatives are followed to the letter," said Judy Smith, the Kansas state director for CWA. "As a women's organization, we want to ensure that every woman receives the legally approved medical standard of care on any procedure, including abortion."

As WND reported earlier, Mark Crutcher, of Life Dynamics has suggested the abortion industry is involved with vast numbers of violations of state and local laws around the country.

He previously conducted an undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood operations and discovered many locations expressed a willingness to overlook laws requiring parental notification – or required reports to police – in the case of an underage girl.

He said it's a simple comparison of abortion industry "services" provided to underage girls and the "reports" of suspicion of assault on a child. Those "services," his research has shown, outnumber the reports 11-1 nationwide.

The federal Title X funding requirements to follow state and local laws, or pay the penalty, he said, should kick in.

"The fact that these family planning facilities are in clear violation of child abuse or statutory rape reporting requirements creates an environment for us to demand that their funding be immediately cut off," Crutcher said in the earlier report. "Given their heavy reliance on state and federal tax dollars, losing that money would be nothing less than a financial catastrophe for these organizations."

"Better yet, their failure to adhere to state and federal law means that funds allocated in past years were obtained fraudulently. Because of that, we may be able to force a return of those funds. Needless to say that could literally cripple the entire abortion industry," he concluded.

WND also has reported on another attack front on Planned Parenthood.

Pro-life advocates in dozens of cities across the United States are approaching the end of their 40-day prayer vigils outside abortion clinics. The protests were launched Sept. 26 and are scheduled to conclude Nov. 4.

The 40 Days is an intensive pro-life effort that focuses attention on prayer and fasting, as well as the 40 days of round-the-clock peaceful prayer vigils at abortion facilities, officials said.

The 40 day model was taken from the Bible, where in repeated instances God transformed individuals, cities or nations over a 40-day period.

Other organizations signing the letter to Congress included Vision America Action, Americans United for Life, Families Against Planned Parenthood, Cornerstone Institute of Idaho, National Legal Foundation, Women Influencing the Nation, International Right to Life Federation, Traditional Values Coalition, Colorado Family Institute, Illinois Family Institute, Ohio Right to Life, Christian Medical Association, Liberty University School of Law, Americans For Truth, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Family Foundation, Priests for Life, Coalition for Marriage and Family, Capitol Hill Prayer Alerts, Bott Radio Network, Life Legal Defense Foundation and the National Black Pro-Life Union, among others.