More life-affirming alternatives needed

Peggy Simonsen takes exception to Rep. Joe Walsh's position on social issues in her Fence Post letter printed in the Feb. 13 edition of the Daily Herald. While she is entitled to her opinion, it should be noted that the claims she makes about the level of services provided by Planned Parenthood to women in need of pre- and/or postnatal care are more extreme than Mr. Walsh's views.

A simple search of two Web sites reveals a more telling story. Planned Parenthood lists 23 affiliated women's health centers in the state of Illinois on their Web site. A search under www.911babies.com reveals 85 pregnancy resource centers offering various degrees of medical and counseling services as well as medical referrals in the state. The difference between these two resources is that these facilities will not refer or perform abortions.

To say that Planned Parenthood facilities are the only available choice for some women would appear to be greatly exaggerated. Many of the CareNet, Women's Centers and Aid for Women Centers are located in close proximity to the facilities that endorse abortion. They simply lack the aggressive marketing and branding that is made possible, in part, by federal tax dollar support of Planned Parenthood under Title X legislation.

Women are endowed with free will by their Creator to do as they choose. Shouldn't we, as a society, encourage positive life-giving choices? When will the bias to promote and endorse poor choices end? Perhaps when other legislators in our state and in our country follow Mr. Walsh's lead and stand up for legislation that truly guides and supports women in crisis to make life-affirming choices.

Peter Gennuso

Schaumburg