Wrong facts about Planned Parenthood

In response to an April 9 letter by Judy Lippert, which was in response to a letter by Sarah Williams of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Ms. Lippert’s stated concerns about Planned Parenthood as the largest abortion provider in the United States sounded sincere. Sincere, but the numbers she alludes to play differently, as only 3 percent of the overall services provided by Planned Parenthood involve abortions.

Ms. Lippert wrote it was indicated by Sarah Williams that tax money is allocated to provide abortion services only for those whose pregnancies result from rape or incest. Ms. Lippert then says to “consider 50 million abortions since 1973.” I would certainly hope Ms. Lippert in not implying that “50 million abortions since 1973” fall under the category of rape or incest as that would be even more disturbing than _____ (you fill in the blank as words fail me).

When a woman makes the most personal and private decision to terminate a pregnancy and seeks services with Planned Parenthood for this medical procedure she is responsible for paying for services rendered. Not you, not your neighbor nor any other taxpaying citizen.

So, if you don’t want an abortion, don’t have one. But do not presume to dictate another woman’s ability to choose in such a personal and private decision. Along with His abiding love, God gave us free will and consequently the responsibility of living with those decisions. Who are you to nay say that?

Women have been facing this personal and private decision for all time, and it is not going to go away. Let’s make sure that the health services provided by Planned Parenthood for women in need, include access to safe abortion procedures and not back alley, kitchen skewer and rusty hangers as an only option.

Melissa Riley

Elk Grove Village