Posted on 11/17/2006 2:09:41 PM PST by kiriath_jearim
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration, to the consternation of its critics, has picked the medical director of an organization that opposes premarital sex, contraception and abortion to lead the office that oversees federally funded teen pregnancy, family planning and abstinence programs.
The appointment of Eric Keroack, a Marblehead, Mass. obstetrician and gynecologist, to oversee the federal Office of Population Affairs and its $283 million annual budget has angered family-planning advocates.
Keroack currently is medical director of A Woman's Concern, a Christian nonprofit. The Dorchester, Mass.-based organization runs six centers in the state that offer free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and counseling. It also works to "help women escape the temptation and violence of abortion," according to its statement of faith. And it opposes contraception, saying its use increases out-of-wedlock pregnancy and abortion rates.
"A Woman's Concern is persuaded that the crass commercialization and distribution of birth control is demeaning to women, degrading of human sexuality and adverse to human health and happiness," its contraception policy reads in part.
"The appointment of anti-birth control, anti-sex education advocate Dr. Eric Keroack to oversee the nation's family planning program is striking proof that the Bush administration remains dramatically out of step with the nation's priorities," Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement.
A message left with A Woman's Concern was not immediately returned Friday.
Keroack's appointment as deputy assistant secretary for population affairs does not require Senate confirmation. He is expected to start work in the next several weeks, Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Christina Pearson said.
The department's assistant secretary for health, Dr. John Agwunobi, cited Keroack's experience in working primarily with "women and girls in crisis" in lauding his appointment.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Anyone that opposes contraception is an idiot.
But we all know that Bush is not really a Conservative, now don't we.
I think he means opposes contraception for underage teenagers as a means of birth control.
Planned Parenthood (What a crock!) has received $3.9 billion (that's BILLION)in taxpayer money through federal government grants since 1987, ostensibly justified because PP serves the public weal through its "family planning" programs.
Over the past two years PP has received $551 million in federal taxpayer money alone (over and above any state or local funds). This amounted to approx. one -third of its total ill-gotten income.
Please ask --- demand, beg, whatever, that your U. S. Senators and Representatives put an end to this abomination. Ask that they access PP's web site, read their advice to questions raised by teen-aged youth, then explain to you why the Congress should continue to insult taxpayers by giving our money to PP.
Good for W...
Excellent question.
I'll be one of the 1st to give credit where credit is due. Thanks, GW. (my perception is to turn to page 6 & see some screwed up appointment in another arena)
"The appointment of anti-birth control, anti-sex education advocate Dr. Eric Keroack to oversee the nation's family planning program is striking proof that the Bush administration remains dramatically out of step with the nation's priorities," Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement.
Planned Parenthood is a "Family Planning Group"?
The words that were included in this article to inflame the left were "a Christian nonprofit". The left will now do everything that they can to squash him.
Damn the left.
how about giving it to your 14 year old daughter without you knowing about it? is that smart?
Yes he has, and you can bet if Hitlery gets in there, ALL of that will change. Wonder if Rudy or McLame would change some of this stuff or leave it as is????? Something to think about if you are a "Donner Party Conservative".
Thank you for pointing this out, metalurgist.
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