In a move that sounds much more controversial than it really is, Planned Parenthood of Indiana is selling gift certificates in $25 increments. Planned Parenthood of Illinois will be offering something similar beginning on Monday.
They cover a wide spectrum of health problems:
The gift certificates can be given to women and men to cover essential services like screenings and birth control. Services such as annual exams for women, which include breast exams and Pap tests, typically cost $58.
The gift certificates don’t expire. They can be used for co-payments, medication, contraception, and, yes, abortions. Although it should be noted that 95% of Planned Parenthood’s business is not abortion-related. The plan is to offer the certificates all year long.
It is actually a rather thoughtful gift for many people — especially those who may not have proper insurance or have not had the time to get a real checkup recently.
“Our patients are principally low-income women, and so, needless to say, those patients are more challenged now than ever,” [Betty Cockrum, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Indiana] said. “We find that when women are [financially] strapped, they’re more worried about putting food on the table and gas in their car, and their health care is often put by the wayside.”
Almost 800,000 Indiana residents don’t have health insurance, she said.
Now, take a guess at how the Religious Right is seeing this:
“They deserve coal in their stocking, not money for lethal gift certificates.” — Sister Diane Carollo, director of the Office for Pro-Life Ministry for the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
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“The Baby Butchers of America want to celebrate Christmas by helping you kill your own children in the womb.” — Slice of Laodicea.
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“Planned Parenthood, this generation’s King Herod, you know, the guy who ordered the mass slaughter of babies when Jesus was born.” — Jill Stanek, columnist for WorldNetDaily.
It’s foolish to think anyone would take an abortion so lightly. Only the nutcases think people have abortions just for the hell of it. I’ve never heard of anyone obtaining an abortion by way of a coupon.
Next thing you know, the Christian Right will be pissed off because Amazon offers gift certificates and they sell (*gasp*) condoms!
This is not a gift certificate for an abortion. In fact, the money could be used toward contraception — both of which would help prevent possible abortions.
This is a gift certificate to help women (and men) get the health care they need.
Planned Parenthood should be applauded for giving people the opportunity to show their family and friends they care about them, not condemned because they provide women with a choice.
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