For many, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a trusted name in affordable reproductive health care. PPFA would like to keep that standing for the more than 750 centers they operate. They would also like to remain the largest abortion provider in the United States. To reach both goals, PPFA must distort the truth and provide misleading information to women who are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy.

Planned Parenthood began in 1916 with one birth control clinic opened by Margaret Sanger. Now, Planned Parenthood offers international services, encouraging the use of abortion to solve “health” and “social problems” in America and third-world countries.

Planned Parenthood’s slogan and mission is that “every child should be a wanted child.” Right to Life of Michigan also agrees every child should be wanted and loved. In fact, every child could be wanted and loved. Families in the United States are waiting to adopt.

Planned Parenthood's Commitment to Abortion

PPFA’s Vision for 2025 includes a number of goals including access to reproductive and sexual health care for all. One of the ways Planned Parenthood worked to fulfill that goal was to require every one of their affiliates to operate an abortion clinic by 2013.

Planned Parenthood talks about “choice,” but one choice that isn’t addressed is the option of adoption. According to their 2011-2012 Annual Report, PPFA does not provide any true assistance regarding adoption. In 1997, PPFA referred 9,381 women to other agencies for adoption assistance. By 2011, that number dropped to 2,300 women. While adoption referrals have declined, the number of abortions performed at PPFA “health centers” increased. During 1997, 165,174 abortions were performed; however, by 2011 their abortion business had dramatically increased with 333,964 abortions performed. Approximately one quarter of abortions in the United States are performed by PPFA, making them the largest abortion provider in the country.

A “Profitable” Non-Profit Organization

For years, prolife citizens have been frustrated by the fact that their tax dollars go to abortion-promoting organizations like PPFA. The hundreds of millions of tax dollars for family planning programs Planned Parenthood receives end up subsidizing their staff salaries and operational costs, allowing them to carry out their abortion advocacy. Planned Parenthood operates as a “non-profit” organization, but consistently takes in more revenues than it spends. Nationally, PPFA’s 2011-2012 Annual Report showed a profit (income in excess of expenditures) at $87.4 million. It is time to redirect our tax dollars to health providers who are not abortion advocates.

Planned Parenthood's Political Advocacy

Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates lobby at both the state and federal level to block any prolife legislative proposals, such as laws that would inform parents before their minor daughters obtain abortions. According to PPFA’s annual report they spent $51.3 million for public policy during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. During the 2012 election, Planned Parenthood spent $15 million on advertising and get out the vote activities, according to the Washington Post on November 14, 2012.

Planned Parenthood works diligently to halt prolife laws by lobbying against legislation and bringing lawsuits against prolife laws in court. Our tax dollars pay for the court costs involved in defending those laws. Planned Parenthood has worked to defeat the following:

• Repeated attempts to ban partial-birth abortions

• Parental consent for abortion - girls under age 18 need one parent's consent before abortion

• The ban on Medicaid-funded abortions

• Women's right to know - informed consent for abortion

• Abortion clinic regulation and reporting requirements
  

• Ending abortion "health" benefits for public employees

• Ending tax-funded abortion advocacy

• Healthcare workers' conscience protections

• Barring wrongful birth lawsuits

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Further reading

Bad Choices, by Douglas R. Scott -- An in-depth look at Planned Parenthood's goals, strategy and organization.

Blessed are the Barren, by Robert Marshall and Charles Donovan -- This book recounts the social policy of Planned Parenthood and the organization's history.

Grand Illusions, by George Grant -- An overview of Planned Parenthood's legacy and effect on society from a religious perspective.

Margaret Sanger's Eugenic Legacy, by Angela Franks -- This work addresses Sanger’s ideas concerning birth control, eugenics, population control, and sterilization against the backdrop of the larger eugenic context.

Stand Up Girl, by Becky Fraser with Linda Shands
-- Becky Fraser was an unmarried college student who became pregnant. Becky uses this book to help women sort out their options as she did when she was pregnant.

Unplanned, by Abby Johnson with Cindy Lambert

-- The dramatic true story of a former Planned Parenthood leader's eye-opening journey across the life line. 

Victims and Victors, edited by David C. Reardon, Julie Makimaa, and Amy Sobie -- Addresses the issue of pregnancies conceived during rape and shares the stories of women who conceived after being rape.

What really matters to the abortion industry?  Profits or women?

See what a former Planned Parenthood director told the audience at Right to Life of Michigan's Legislative Day. FULL STORY

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Helping plan for parenthood: Planned Parenthood just doesn't do that

A student who graduated from Western Michigan University, was married and became pregnant all in three months found herself very overwhelmed. She called the Planned Parenthood clinic in Kalamazoo looking for help on preparing to become a parent, only to be told "we don't do that here." FULL STORY

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Educational Presentation

What Lies Beneath is a PowerPoint presentation for use in churches and group settings to educate the abortion agenda of Planned Parenthood.

The PowerPoint is free of charge and comes with a presenter's script for a seamless presentation.

PRESENTATION
SCRIPT

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Planned Parenthood Federation of America by the numbers

• 333,964 abortions performed in 2011, up from 165,174 in 1997. Planned Parenthood performs approximately 1 in 4 abortions in the United States

• 2,300 adoption referrals in 2011, down from 9,381 in 1997

• Commits approximately 145 abortions for every adoption referral

• Received more than $542 million from taxpayers in 2011-2012

• Made a profit of $87.4 million in 2011-2012

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Flyers and handouts

These resources are available at the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Resource Centers.

Providing and Promoting Abortion

A flyer providing an overview of Planned Parenthood, available for download and copying
FLYER (PDF)
SPANISH FLYER (PDF)

Charity Check: Pink ribbons connect Susan G. Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood

A flyer which discusses the connections between Planned Parenthood and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
FLYER (PDF)

Abortion clinic complaint

A brochure-sized card with information about laws that abortion clinics are required to follow and instructions on how to file a complaint. For the same information on our website, click here.