In This Issue
- Planned Parenthood execs and supporters win religious awards
- The religion of Planned Parenthood
- What one Planned Parenthood president told the Humanists
- Planned Parenthood “temporarily” closes Tucson center
Planned Parenthood execs and supporters win religious awards
Anyone on the front lines of the pro-life movement knows that the number one killer of preborn babies in the United States is the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its 48 affiliates across the country. At one time or another, just about every activist against Planned Parenthood has been accused by it of “trying to force your religious beliefs on the entire community.”
In fact, Planned Parenthood itself is doing exactly what it is accusing us of doing. It is actively trying to force its religious beliefs on society. The religion that Planned Parenthood pushes is generally referred to as “Humanism.” In a companion piece to this article, we will examine in depth the actual beliefs of humanism based on their manifestos, but here we will simply document all the leaders and high-level supporters of Planned Parenthood who have received awards from the American Humanist Association for spreading their philosophies.
AHA routinely gives out annual awards to those individuals who have been active in spreading the Humanist religion. To those who may disagree that Humanism is just a philosophy, we simply point to the fact that AHA has gone to great lengths over the years to make sure its philosophies are recognized as a religion. For example, in April 2014, as the result of a lawsuit, the United States Army agreed to change its faith code to include “Humanism” as a valid choice for members of the service.
To illustrate the degree to which Planned Parenthood is involved with the spread of the religion of Humanism, consider the Humanist recognition of the following officials and supporters of Planned Parenthood:
- Margaret Sanger (founder and president, 1916-1962) received the Humanist of the Year Award from the American Humanist Association in 1957.
- Alan F. Guttmacher, MD, (president, 1962-1973) was a signer of the 1973 Humanist Manifesto II.
- Faye Wattleton (president, 1978-1992) received the Humanist of the Year award in 1986.
- Gloria Feldt (president, 1996-2005) received the Humanist Distinguished Service Award from the American Humanist Association in 2003.
- Cecile Richards (president, 2006-2018), founder of the Texas Freedom Network whose website was hosted for many years by the Humanists of Houston, a member organization of the American Humanist Association.
- Albert Ellis (member, Planned Parenthood leadership committee) received the Humanist of the Year award in 1971.
- Mary Calderone (medical director of Planned Parenthood, cofounder of SIECUS) received the Humanist of the Year award in 1974.
- Betty Friedan (member, Planned Parenthood leadership committee) received the Humanist of the Year award in 1975.
- Isaac Asimov (member, Planned Parenthood leadership committee) received the Humanist of the Year award in 1984.
- Lloyd Morain (member, Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood) received the Humanist of the Year award in 1994.
- Tom Davis (head of Planned Parenthood’s Clergy Committee) wrote Sacred Work: Planned Parenthood and its Clergy Alliances in 2005. In the Forward to the book, the Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, president and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, described Planned Parenthood as a “secular Humanist organization.”
- Bill Nye (identified by Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest as “our favorite guy” in October 2015) received the Humanist of the Year Award in 2010.
- Gloria Steinem (founder of Voters for Choice, which became the Planned Parenthood Action Fund) received the Humanist of the Year Award in 2012.
- US Representative Jared Huffman (who promotes Planned Parenthood of Northern California) received the Humanist of the Year Award in 2020.
These and many more instances clearly show the tie between Planned Parenthood and the members of the American Humanist Association.
The religion of Planned Parenthood
STOPP frequently refers to the “humanist” philosophies of Planned Parenthood. What are those philosophies? There are many who maintain that much of what Planned Parenthood does is irrational. It simply makes no sense unless you understand its underlying attitudes.
The guiding philosophies of humanism are found in three documents. The first is currently known as “Humanist Manifesto I” and was issued in 1933. It was signed by 34 people, including John Dewey, who is widely recognized as a leader in structuring education programs. The second document updated and clarified the first and is known as “Humanist Manifesto II”. It was issued in 1973 and was signed by 114 people, including Alan F. Guttmacher, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Humanist Manifesto III” was issued in 2003.
Although the three manifestos contain essentially the same ideas, we believe Humanist Manifesto II used the clearest language. Thus, we present to you excerpts (in all capital letters) from that document:
AS IN 1933, HUMANISTS STILL BELIEVE THAT TRADITIONAL THEISM, ESPECIALLY FAITH IN THE PRAYER-HEARING GOD, ASSUMED TO LOVE AND CARE FOR PERSONS, TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND THEIR PRAYERS, AND TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM, IS AN UNPROVED AND OUTMODED FAITH.
Thus, you can see that the humanists start out by denying the basic tenets of faith believed by most people in the world. They go on to list some principles which they want people to use as a foundation for action. Following are excerpts from these:
WE FIND INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FOR BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE OF A SUPERNATURAL; IT IS EITHER MEANINGLESS OR IRRELEVANT TO THE QUESTION OF THE SURVIVAL AND FULFILLMENT OF THE HUMAN RACE.
WE CAN DISCOVER NO DIVINE PURPOSE OR PROVIDENCE FOR THE HUMAN SPECIES. WHILE THERE IS MUCH WE DO NOT KNOW, HUMANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE ARE OR WILL BECOME. NO DEITY WILL SAVE US; WE MUST SAVE OURSELVES.
You are probably surprised to know that there is no divine purpose in your life. Remember that humanists believe that “this is it” . . . there is nothing that comes after this life (what a sad way to live!). This is affirmed further as the document states:
PROMISES OF IMMORTAL SALVATION OR FEAR OF ETERNAL DAMNATION ARE BOTH ILLUSORY AND HARMFUL. THEY DISTRACT HUMANS FROM PRESENT CONCERNS, FROM SELF-ACTUALIZATION, AND FROM RECTIFYING SOCIAL INJUSTICES.
Many of today’s Planned Parenthood-designed comprehensive sexuality education programs include units in “value clarification.” If you wonder what the basis for such courses are, read further in the Humanist document:
WE AFFIRM THAT MORAL VALUES DERIVE THEIR SOURCE FROM HUMAN EXPERIENCE. ETHICS IS AUTONOMOUS AND SITUATIONAL, NEEDING NO THEOLOGICAL OR IDEOLOGICAL SANCTION.
WE STRIVE FOR THE GOOD LIFE HERE AND NOW.
REASON AND INTELLIGENCE ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENTS THAT HUMANKIND POSSESSES. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE: NEITHER FAITH NOR PASSION SUFFICES IN ITSELF.
Most Planned Parenthood programs contain warnings to kids that they should not be saddled with the “old fashioned” morals of their parents or others. Almost all “Family Life” programs insist that the teachers adhere to the philosophy that there are no right or wrong answers. This is stated by the Humanist as follows:
THE PRECIOUSNESS AND DIGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL PERSON IS A CENTRAL HUMANIST VALUE. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO REALIZE THEIR OWN CREATIVE TALENTS AND DESIRES. WE REJECT ALL RELIGIOUS, IDEOLOGICAL, OR MORAL CODES THAT DENIGRATE THE INDIVIDUAL, SUPPRESS FREEDOM, DULL INTELLECT, DEHUMANIZE PERSONALITY. WE BELIEVE IN MAXIMUM INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMY CONSONANT WITH SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. ALTHOUGH SCIENCE CAN ACCOUNT FOR THE CAUSES OF BEHAVIOR, THE POSSIBILITIES OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM OF CHOICE EXIST IN HUMAN LIFE AND SHOULD BE INCREASED.
Please note that nowhere do the humanists distinguish between an adult or a child. They apply their “maximum individual autonomy” philosophies to everyone. We can see this in action in Planned Parenthood’s insistence on confidentiality and the lack of parental notification.
Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger saw her crusade of birth control as a religion. Many current Planned Parenthood supporters echo her sentiments. You will not be surprised, then, to find the next statement in the “Humanist Manifesto”:
IN THE AREA OF SEXUALITY, WE BELIEVE THAT INTOLERANT ATTITUDES, OFTEN CULTIVATED BY ORTHODOX RELIGIONS AND PURITANICAL CULTURES, UNDULY REPRESS SEXUAL CONDUCT. THE RIGHT TO BIRTH CONTROL, ABORTION, AND DIVORCE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED.
SHORT OF HARMING OTHERS OR COMPELLING THEM TO DO LIKEWISE, INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO EXPRESS SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES AND PURSUE THEIR LIFE-STYLES AS THEY DESIRE.
Claims of early opponents of legalized abortion that it would lead to euthanasia are certainly justified as we read on in this 1973 document of humanism:
TO ENHANCE FREEDOM AND DIGNITY THE INDIVIDUAL MUST EXPERIENCE A FULL RANGE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES IN ALL SOCIETIES. (THIS) INCLUDES A RECOGNITION OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO DIE WITH DIGNITY, EUTHANASIA, AND THE RIGHT TO SUICIDE.
Many people wonder how sane persons can grossly misinterpret the Constitution in areas where the wording appears so clear. The Constitution states, for example, that “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Yet, this seemingly clear prohibition on the establishment of a national religion has been interpreted by many to mean an absolute separation of religion from the conduct of public business. Perhaps this can be seen in a new light as we look at the Humanist religious statement:
THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE AND THE SEPARATION OF IDEOLOGY AND STATE ARE IMPERATIVES.
Thus, the Humanists cannot afford to have any traditional religious values get in the way of their own anti-God religion.
One of Planned Parenthood’s chief thrusts to justify their efforts is the “problem” of over-population in the world. Even though all serious experts agree that overpopulation of the world is NOT the problem (but the problem is rather an adequate distribution system for food and goods), Planned Parenthood continues to hold to this line. By now, you are probably not surprised to learn that the Humanist Manifesto has something to say on this:
THE PLANET EARTH MUST BE CONSIDERED A SINGLE ECOSYSTEM. ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE, RESOURCE DEPLETION, AND EXCESSIVE POPULATION GROWTH MUST BE CHECKED BY INTERNATIONAL CONCORD.
The humanist’s preoccupation with birth control becomes increasingly clear when it appears, without much rationale, in the following statement in the document:
IT IS THE MORAL OBLIGATION OF THE DEVELOPED NATIONS TO PROVIDE -THROUGH AN INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY THAT SAFEGUARDS HUMAN RIGHTS – MASSIVE TECHNICAL, AGRICULTURAL, MEDICAL, AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING BIRTH CONTROL TECHNIQUES, TO THE DEVELOPING PORTIONS OF THE GLOBE.
After listing these specific goals and objectives, the document concludes with a call to the human community. Reaffirming its rejection of God, the conclusion includes the following:
AT THE PRESENT JUNCTURE OF HISTORY, COMMITMENT TO ALL HUMANKIND IS THE HIGHEST COMMITMENT OF WHICH WE ARE CAPABLE; IT TRANSCENDS THE NARROW ALLEGIANCES OF CHURCH, STATE, PARTY, CLASS, OR RACE IN MOVING TOWARD A WIDER VISION OF HUMAN POTENTIALITY. WHAT MORE DARING A GOAL FOR HUMANKIND THAN FOR EACH PERSON TO BECOME, IN IDEAL AS WELL AS PRACTICE, A CITIZEN OF A WORLD COMMUNITY.
You, of course, are truly pleased to learn that the “highest commitment of which we are capable” is not a commitment to Jesus Christ, Who suffered and died on the cross because He loved us so much. It is, instead, according to these Planned Parenthood humanists, a commitment to our fellow humans. We learned earlier in the document that, not only should we not commit ourselves to Christ, He can’t answer our prayers or help us in any way possible.
Planned Parenthood goes to great lengths to solicit the support of religious persons of all faiths. They cleverly adopt programs and get involved in social issues that will make them appear as a benevolent organization trying to help. We must always remember, however, that the true nature and intent of the organization can be found in the philosophies of its founder and in documents such as the “Humanist Manifesto II.” There has never been a claim that someone forced Alan Guttmacher to sign this document. It represents the true attitudes of Dr. Guttmacher, Margaret Sanger and all its leaders who have accepted awards from the American Humanist Association.
We would never claim, of course, that this is the attitude of every member of Planned Parenthood. Many members are probably unaware of the “Humanist Manifesto II” or of Dr. Guttmacher’s signing of the document.
Please pray for these people and send them copies of these pages so that they will be educated on the anti-God organization they support and invite into our schools and other programs.
What one Planned Parenthood president told the Humanists
In an accompanying article, we have listed over a dozen names of Planned Parenthood executives and supporters who were recipients of awards from the American Humanist Association. One awardee, Faye Wattleton, used her acceptance speech to paint the close relationship between the two organizations and to show her goal of pushing sexuality education programs and school-based clinics on every school district in the nation.
To illustrate the ties between AHA and Planned Parenthood, we present here some excerpts from the acceptance speech of then-PPFA president, Faye Wattleton, when she accepted her 1986 Humanist of the Year award. (Her full speech was printed in THE HUMANIST, July/August 1986.):
- “Another reason I am so honored today is because your movement and mine have a great deal in common.”
- “…speaking of Jerry Falwell, it is a pleasure, I must admit, to share with you opposition to him and others of his ilk…”
- “Too many of us are focused upon stopping teenage sexual activity rather than stopping teenage pregnancy.”
- “Parents have to be helped… to pass on their family’s values. And, because many parents just can’t do that, sexuality education must be a fundamental part of the school curricula from kindergarten through twelfth grade in every school district in the country.”
- “Easy access to contraception must be another priority… We must establish many more school-based health clinics that provide contraceptives as part of general health care.
- “The threat of teenage pregnancy hits home the hardest if you have children and particularly if you have a daughter. My daughter is ten, and, like other ten-year-olds, she has got the world on a string. My solace in confronting her sexual maturation is the knowledge that she attends an all-girl school. And that’s exactly where I intend to keep her for as long as I can.”
(NOTE: Of course, those of you who are not able to send your children to a sexually segregated school, must endure the fact that Planned Parenthood will come into coeducational classes and attack the children’s modesty by distributing birth control and by encouraging frank and open discussions of intimate feelings and physiology. Just the type of thing Planned Parenthood’s president takes solace in protecting her daughter from!)
In this week’s Wednesday STOPP Report, we have taken care to bring you details on the religion of Planned Parenthood. We pray that you now feel emboldened to speak out against this aspect of Planned Parenthood with your fellow parents and especially with your priests and ministers.
Planned Parenthood’s abortion business is devastating. Almost 1,000 babies die every day in Planned Parenthood facilities. Almost 400 of those babies will be Black.
But Planned Parenthood’s attacks on the souls of our children are without parallel. Here is an organization whose leaders receive awards for teaching our children that God doesn’t matter, and they get away with it. No more. We must act now to STOP Planned Parenthood!
Planned Parenthood “temporarily” closes Tucson center
Planned Parenthood’s Southern Arizona Regional Health Center on N. Wyatt Drive in Tucson, Arizona, has quietly “closed until further notice.” There has been no public announcement to date, but those fighting against Planned Parenthood in Tucson have confirmed it is not open.
This facility committed both surgical and pill abortions.
American Life League has 19 Marian Blue Wave prayer partners in the southern Arizona area, with 12 of them located in Tucson itself. There are 28 additional prayer partners in areas north of Tucson (most located around Phoenix). All these 47 individuals (see map) and their families/churches are praying a Rosary a week for the closure of all Planned Parenthood facilities across the country.
We offer congratulations to all our over 4,000 prayer partners world-wide and ask that you pray, along with local Fighters Against Planned Parenthood in Tucson, thanking God for this temporary closure and asking that the facility not reopen. We understand local people will be praying at the Planned Parenthood facility this Friday, July 23, between 9:00 and 10:00 AM.
STOPP reported in our annual Planned Parenthood Facilities Report, that Planned Parenthood reported a total of 19 centers that “temporarily closed” during the 2020 calendar year. Of those centers, only two have reopened. The rest continue to remain closed—most for over a year.
Although Planned Parenthood in 2021 has opened two new centers in California and permanently closed one in the state of Washington, this is the first new temporary closure reported this year.
