My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Historians tell us that abortion and infanticide were widespread, commonplace and, for the most part, legal in the classical world of the Greeks and Romans. Perhaps if they had the technology at the time, they would have sold fetal body parts for profit. Since the moral decadence of our 21st century western world now rivals the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, it should not surprise us that the nationwide abortion provider Planned Parenthood has been exposed for trafficking and selling the body parts of aborted babies. I say we should not be surprised, but we still should be shocked and appalled at this moral depravity.
Recently, the Center for Medical Progress released undercover videos and documentation showing how people at the highest levels of Planned Parenthood are negotiating the sale of body parts and adjusting the way they perform abortions so that the body parts are more accessible. New undercover footage shows Planned Parenthood's Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, describing how Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of aborted fetuses, and admitting she uses partial-birth abortions to supply intact body parts. In the video, Nucatola is at a business lunch casually sipping a glass of red wine with actors posing as buyers from a human biologics company. As head of Planned Parenthood's Medical Services Department, Nucatola has overseen medical practice at all Planned Parenthood locations since 2009. She also trains new Planned Parenthood abortion doctors and performs abortions herself at Planned Parenthood in Los Angeles.
A separate clip shows Planned Parenthood President and CEO Cecile Richards praising Nucatola's work to facilitate connections for fetal tissue collection.
Nucatola also reveals that Planned Parenthood's national office is concerned about their liability for the sale of fetal parts. She says, "At the national office, we have a Litigation and Law Department which just really doesn't want us to be the middle people for this issue right now. But I will tell you that behind closed doors these conversations are happening with the affiliates." She should be concerned because the sale or purchase of human fetal tissue is a federal felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 (42 U.S.C. 289g-2).
The project leader of this undercover investigation, David Daleiden, notes, "Planned Parenthood's criminal conspiracy to make money off of aborted baby parts reaches to the very highest levels of their organization. Elected officials must listen to the public outcry for Planned Parenthood to be held accountable to the law and for our tax dollars to stop underwriting this barbaric abortion business."
In response, House Republican leaders have announced a congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood. The governors of Texas and Louisiana ordered investigations in their states. Several Republican presidential candidates condemned Planned Parenthood. Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin drew sustained applause speaking in South Carolina the week the video was made public when he described how Planned Parenthood was defunded in his state.
In contrast, top Democrats in Congress are defending Planned Parenthood. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, a member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus and sponsor of numerous abortion-rights bills, complained that "this was a sting operation," as if using undercover investigative techniques somehow justifies the wrongful activity that was exposed. She said she had not watched the nine-minute video.
Rep. Barbara Lee, Democrat from California and a prominent supporter of abortion rights, also dismissed the latest attacks against Planned Parenthood. "They've been attacking Planned Parenthood for years," she said. "They've been calling for investigations for years, and they surface videos and they come on the attack … and I think it's outrageous." Lee also said she had not seen the video.
President Obama in 2013 was the first sitting president to address Planned Parenthood, telling them, "I want you to know that you've got a president who's going to be right there with you fighting every step of the way." What have we heard about this exposé of Planned Parenthood from the White House, which was illuminated in rainbow colors when the Supreme Court made same-sex "marriage" legal throughout the country? Silence. Deafening silence.
Other abortion apologists have used euphemisms to defend Planned Parenthood, saying they were simply being compensated for costs associated with "organ donations." What they overlook or intentionally omit is that unborn babies are absolutely unable to consent to "donating" their organs and that the harvesting of their organs involves the premeditated killing of these babies.
For those of us who believe in the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death, may we never grow apathetic to the plight of unborn babies and may our government officials act decisively to put an end to this gruesome practice.
May God give us this grace. Amen.
Bishop Thomas Paprocki, Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, 7/26/15
“Each week for three weeks now, we have been exposed to one heinous video after another, each one more shocking than the last. This nurse’s biggest concern in aborting these tiny babies was getting quality body parts because ‘Planned Parenthood was getting compensated.’
“While the very thought that we as taxpayers are complicit with Planned Parenthood in the provision of abortion at all is very disturbing to me, these recordings show an even more grizzly side to the abortion industry.
“It is unconscionable that this land of the free and home of the brave not only tolerates but actively supports such perversity. Congress needs to thoroughly investigate these accusations immediately.
“No public funds should be provided to organizations promoting abortions especially if involved in the marketing of human body parts. An organization committed to such gruesome evil should not get a dime from taxpayers”
Bishop Robert Vasa, Diocese of Santa Rosa, California, 7/28/15
If there was any doubt about the evil agenda of Planned Parenthood, that doubt has been dispelled by the recent video showing the sale of body parts of aborted babies. This disgusting and depraved practice should be condemned by everyone with a conscience, everyone committed to the defense of human life and dignity. It is time for political leaders to renounce their association with Planned Parenthood. And once again I call upon the Rhode Island Congressional delegation to end the public funding of Planned Parenthood. Our taxes should not be used to end the life of children and then market their bodies.
Bishop Thomas Tobin, Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, 7/21/15
The problem is that you don't see real bishops, like Vasa, Tobin, and Paprocki appearing on the Sunday talk shows. Don't get me wrong: there's not nearly enough good bishops and entirely too many lousy ones, I'm the first to admit. But they are there.
He's almost a self-caricature: the guffawing stage-Irishman, florid, glad-handed, totally unmindful that he's supposed to protect the lambs and dismay the wolves, and not the other way around.