Another Planned Parenthood merger: What do they mean?
On June 24 Planned Parenthood of the Heartland announced yet another merger, this one with Planned Parenthood of Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.
A month ago PP Heartland announced it was merging with Planned Parenthood of Southeast Iowa.
When these merges are complete, PP Heartland will have “approximately 30 health centers located throughout Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma,” according to its press release.
Planned Parenthood mergers are becoming more commonplace. PP Heartland is itself a merge less than 2 years old between Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa and Planned Parenthood of Nebraska/Council Bluffs.
In 2008 all 5 Illinois Planned Parenthood affiliates merged into one: Planned Parenthood of Illinois. At that time National Right to Life reported this was “only one of several recent consolidations among Planned Parenthood affiliates in Kentucky, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, and Arizona.”
I spoke with Jim Sedlak of American Life League today, which also runs the Planned Parenthood watchdog group STOPP.
Jim gave some interesting figures.
At its height in 1978, Planned Parenthood had 191 affiliates. After the 2 PP Heartland mergers it will be down to 82.
The number of Planned Parenthood clinics has likewise declined. In 1995 they peaked at 938, this after Planned Parenthood announced in 1993, when Bill and Hillary were attempting to pass nationalized healthcare, a goal of having “2,000 clinics by the year 2000.” Today there are 797.
This is not to say Planned Parenthood is itself in decline. It has reported an annual income of $1+ billion for its last 3 annual reports, since fiscal year 2005-06.
Sedlak and STOPP are able to get inside information. He told me PP recognized during the Bill/Hillary healthcare years it had a problem. At that time PP had affiliates of all sizes, taking in from $1 million to $20 million annually. Getting the small affiliates to agree with the large affiliates was difficult.
As described in an interesting 1995 New York Times article, the affiliates disagreed on then-PP President Pamela Maraldo’s plan to “‘reinvent’ Planned Parenthood” to provide broader healthcare. Sedlak said the smaller affiliates didn’t want anything to do with the new plan, while the larger affiliates jumped on it. Ultimately the plan failed and Maraldo resigned.
Sedlak told me PP initiated a concerted effort about 5 years ago to merge affiliates bringing in less than $2 million a year with other affiliates to get to a combined income of over $8 million, this to establish homogenous affiliates so that decisions would be more uniform across the organization.
Combining affiliates also means paying fewer CEOs, CFOs, and fewer medical directors, the latter of which are becoming harder and harder to come by.
At present the largest PP affiliate is Mar Monte of California, with an annual income of $84, Sedlak told me.
Bottom line: PP is simply getting leaner, and of course, meaner.
That 1995 NYT article let me know some things stay the same. Here’s the opening line:
At a time when both abortion rights and Federal financing of family planning are under attack in Congress, Planned Parenthood, which has long led the fight for both, is in upheaval.
That could have been written today.
[HT for PP Heartland merger: Steve Brody of Dubuque County Right to Life]
A lean mean killing machine
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Dear Jill & readers,
I’m a young prolifer in need of some advice.
I’ve been following your blog for awhile, and I’ve donated to several different prolife organizations. I have a large prolife sticker on the back of my car, and I wear prolife shirts around school and to the gym. I try and do my part and stay informed.
But ever since I started learning about the abortion issue, I’ve become very depressed. People who I thought were moral before have turned out to be avid pro-choicers, even within my own family. I have discovered dead nieces and nephews I never got the chance to meet. At times, the hate that’s been directed towards me from pro-choice side has been overwhelming, and sometimes I seem to be the only one fighting this battle (there are no prolife groups or events where I live). I tried dropping the debate and not getting involved, but being willfully ignorant hasn’t helped: what’s been learned can’t be unlearned, and I feel guilt and frustration for abandoning those babies when my help might have saved them.
My question is: How do you and other prolifers cope with the emotional pain? I am not Christian, but do you possibly have any advice for me?
Sincerely,
Marrie
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Dear Marrie;
Be patient and be calmly public about your advocacy for the child in the womb. I spent many hours in front of one of our local abortion centers before people stopped to offer words of encouragement and then some joined me.
Hold a sign with the name of the local pregnancy resource center. Go visit them – another great opportunity to meet pro-lifers – and these people are wonderful.
Twice each year (fall and spring), 40 Days for Life has peaceful vigils at local abortion centers. See where the nearest one to your town is. Even if you don’t believe in Jesus Christ or God, it is still an opportunity to meet pro-lifers in your community. I’ve met some of the nicest people on the sidewalk in front of one of our local abortion center. Check http://www.40daysforlife.com for a location near you.
I know we can feel alone and the pro-choice movement is full of mean, angry people who tend to lash out. But we cannot cower before evil and we must oppose injustice. Most of my emotional pain came from the realization that I had signed a death warrant on my own child because of my fear and cowardice. My pro-life work consoles me for I know that I am honoring my dead child by speaking out.
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Another Planned Parenthood merger:What do they mean?
Perhaps it’s an attempt to strengthen Roe v. Wade. Consolidating affiliates across state lines might possibly complicate things from a legal standpoint (enforcing individual states’ laws?), I don’t know….
Marrie, That’s a great question. I wish I had the answer. Let’s see what others have to say.
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Dear Marrie — We are very proud of you! Thank you for answering the call of your heart, to protect the children and their mothers. They need help and love, not exploitation.
How young are you?
We can offer few hints in the comboxes…. wish we could do more.
1) Be patient with yourself. The problem of abortion is so huge, pro-life enthusiasm is overwhelming and depressing at first. You will find a little place where your contributions will matter.
2) Go out and find some pro-life friends. Your generation is the most pro-life since Roe v. Wade. There are millions of you, and some are closer than you think.
3) Give Christianity a chance. We are not pro-life because we are Christians — as you have shown us, anyone who reflects a bit can understand that innocent human life should be protected, and killing is never an answer. But Christian faith give us the courage to be pro-life activists. We suffer for our work, just as you do…. but we know that Jesus was murdered, even though He was as innocent as an unborn child. And so we bear the hard suffering of pro-life work, “hanging on the cross” for the sake of the children. (I know this sounds like “just words,” but there are deep truths behind it, and it keeps us going. I can’t do much more in a combox.)
Meanwhile, keep reading and learning. In time, you will learn how to touch the hearts of those you love, and you will bring healing to them….. probably more by your actions than by your words. Don’t win arguments; win hearts! Love first, before you say any words.
Good luck to you!
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Marrie,
Dido what Del and Barb said.
I have been in and out of pro-life activism for 40 years and I have known the kind of crushing disappointment one can experience—as you describe. It hurts, especially when you feel alone. Please, get together with other activists from times to time…you will be amazed how it will help. This is how one copes. We help one another the best we can.
Don’t worry that you are not Christian…getting to know the ways of people who are “other than my religion” can be fun. I do it all the time. The activist pro-lifers will love you (as they do everybody). Accept them for who they are and everything will be fine.
I recently read a blog post (Generations for Life) that I think might help you. A young woman describes her anxiety associated with her first time sidewalk counseling. She worries about messing up and a child dying as a result of her inability.
http://generationsforlife.org/2011/0626/sidewalk/#more-1078
“There is no way that God would ever let the fate of an unborn child rest on whether or not we can just happen to say the right words to the mother while sidewalk counseling! That is an anxiety born from our human weakness and fear; God has nothing to do with that. He only wants to reach out to these mothers and children with His love, care, and mercy, and He is pleased to do this through us. Our main job is to learn how to love these mothers and children very completely and selflessly. To love them with the love of Christ, who is working through us. And I think that if we can learn this love, than everything else, whether it be words, resources, and etc, will fall into place perfectly and serve our purpose very well.”
Her conclusion, I think, can be applied to all of prolife activism. We can only do what we can do. The rest is up to God or fate or luck or whatever. The same for family members who we thought were surely prolife but turn out not to be. You can’t make them think differently…a good witness for life is what we are called to be…continue to love them…offer them hope…eventually they may reconsider.
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Marie, to answer your question – you seek other like-minded people to encourage and be encouraged. You may not be able to see the immediate results of your efforts, but one day someone will come to you and say something like, ” I remember when you said _____, and it made me change my mind about abortion..” Maybe not exactly, but I remember my first “convert” to the Pro-Life movement, a young 17 year old girl. How many possible lives were saved because she chose to believe that abortion was wrong?
I would like to tell you that I am a former atheist. For many reasons I denied the existence of God and certainly didn’t know who Jesus was. Through a whole other journey I learned who God was and what He did for me (for you, for everyone). I can tell you from personal experience that when you go under His strength and blessing, many seemingly insurmountable obstacles suddenly become manageable.
Without God, I couldn’t do what I do (direct a crisis pregnancy center). Many blessings to you and I pray you come to know the Name above all Names.
For the Babies, Melissa
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Dear Marrie,
It’s very easy to be overcome by the magnitude of what it is we are facing. That’s actually not such a bad thing for a young person. We need to feel it, not just know it intellectually. We need to feel the frustration and the agony that come with feeling helpless, and we need to cry, as Jesus wept over Jerusalem.
Then you need to do as Melissa has suggested and seek other like-minded people. You need to look inward and see what your true talents are and then investigate this multi-faceted pro-life movement and see where your true talents and your heart will enable you to make a difference and realize the full potential that you have for greatness.
Being a faithful christian is a huge benefit, as you draw closer to God and cooperate with the graces He gives you to discern that plan.
The key in all of this is to embrace that emotional pain of which you speak and channel it, using it to energize you and become your driving force. Quite often, sorrow seeks purpose as a means of healing. You will begin to heal that pain when you begin to make your own contributions to the cause. Perhaps in time (10, 20, 30 years), some of those people in your life will be so taken with your constancy that they will open up to you and confide their fears and failures, and in the process, you will embrace them and help to make them whole.
It all requires patience, love, and an abundance of faith that this fight belongs to the Lord, and He will not abandon us on the field.
God Bless
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Marrie:
I know exactly how you feel.
What everyone said up above is true: You need to surround yourself with pro-life friends. If you do, you won’t feel so “alone”.
What Gerard said is absolutely true: Use your pro-life abilities, talents, etc. where they will have the greatest impact. Sidewalk conseling isn’t for everyone and is just one of numerous ways to get the message out.
Quite often you won’t even be aware that your pro-life ideas, thoughts and actions are having an effect on people. Subtle as they may be, they ARE having an effect on those misguided people who think abortion is ok.
The success of the pro-life movement is dependant on the young generation that you are part of. Thankfully, more and more young people are pro-life these days and we pray that that trend continues.
Even though you say you’re not a Christian, the Holy Spirit IS working through you. In time you will come to see this and know that it is HE who is guiding you and enabling you to be of great influence. You’re already on the right track, so don’t get discouraged. SOMEONE out there is seeing your pro-life sticker and t-shirt and it’s making them think…probably numerous people…you just aren’t aware of it…but trust me: These things DO have influence and they DO change hearts and minds.
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“My question is: How do you and other prolifers cope with the emotional pain? I am not Christian, but do you possibly have any advice for me?” – it’s not enough for you that Marrie is anti-choice, you feel the need to convert her to god as well?
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Yes, “alternate reality.” We feel the need to bring her to God and truth.
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Marrie,
Thank you for your honest question!! I would encourage you to begin reading prolife books, articles, and websites. I dug in for years to educate myself and really understand WHY I was prolife and just what I was standing for and against.
Won by Love by Norma McCorvey
Unplanned by Abby Johnson
Blood Money by Carol Everett
The Hand of God by Bernard Nathanson
Prolife Answers to ProChoice Arguments by Randy Alcorn(MY FAVE!)
Lifenews, Lifesitenews, LiveAction, CBR, Priests for Life websites. And this blog of course!!! :)
Also please begin reading the stories of those of us(me included)who have been hurt by abortion. Silent No More Awareness has thousands of stories.
If you are on facebook you can link to prolife articles on your wall and friend like minded people. You will be amazed at the sheer numbers of us.
Call your local Pregnancy Center and talk to the director. She might have wonderful ideas for you.
There is a website called Stand to Reason that will help you in forming your prolife arguments.
The pain of abortion can be a shared burden. We all walk with a passion to save the lives of children and mothers. We fight the evil of abortion together. Take heart.
God bless you, Marrie. I will be praying for you and I hope you will drop by and tell us how it is going. :)
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Jill,
Back in April I posted a story from Life News that said that while continuing to fund PP, 600 million was cut from Community Health Care Clinics across the country…
My question at the time was: Is Obama Killing Off PP’s Competition?
Could it be that the liberal goal is to have PP clinics be the go to health facilities for Obamacare?
Then, here in CT they did the same thing…They defunded the Health Care Clinics but kept the PP funding…You have to question when liberals defund something…Not a normal activity for them…
The Life News link is here: http://www.lifenews.com/2011/04/14/obama-cuts-womens-health-care-funds-planned-parenthood/
Lucy
Heartheircries.blogspot.com
This website is now closed
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Marrie, the pro-lifers are around you. They’re the same as you, afraid to speak up and make themselves known. It is hard to be non-Christian in pro-life activism because you’ll find the pro-life activists to be predominantly Christian. That can be overwhelming. But they will keep morale up.
It’s important to know you don’t have to conform yourself to the pro-life Christians in your community. You’ll be surprised to find that they’ll be more accommodating of who YOU are.
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Hi Marrie,
I’m a young-ish pro-lifer myself (22). You need to be around other pro-life people your age. May I suggest attending the Students for Life of America conference in January? The day-to-day struggles of pro-life activism– knowing that no matter how hard you work, you can’t save them all– can get extremely depressing if you don’t balance it with some good news. Going to that conference and seeing all the progress being made, all the allies you have around the country, all the children being rescued… it’s a HUGE boost!
You also aren’t the only non-Christian pro-lifer out there. I run an organization called Secular Pro-Life that welcomes people of all faith backgrounds. Our facebook page can connect you with lots of like-minded people. We also have lots of volunteer opportunities; right now, we’re undertaking a massive research project to make women aware of malpractice complaints against abortionists (see AbortionSafety.com).
Please feel free to contact me any time. I’m easy to find :-)
Cheers,
Kelsey
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Jill,
Back to your original question…
The mergers are a good short-term strategy for PPs financial health. They’ve been stung by incompetent and greedy local CEO’s. Golden Gate is a good example. The mergers may make them leaner and meaner, but there is also a weakness inherent in them.
They become fatter, more vulnerable targets for lawsuits. As they develop these abortion megacenters, they raise their profile, and show the world what they are truly all about, increasing the ratio of abortions to abortion facility. This enhanced profile benefits them with their supporters and fuels their arrogance, but it also defines them more vividly for those of us who seek to enlighten others who may be ignorant or ambivalent.
What they see as a step toward health, I see as an opening to be exploited.
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Marrie,
What everyone else has said is so true. I would also add that as someone who used to be rabidly pro-choice, I can tell you that your words may be having an effect when there is no outward evidence that you’ve made any impact (or even when it seems like you’re having the opposite effect). I became pro-life over a long period of time and I have countless pro-lifers to thank (a few in particular) for engaging me over and over in what must’ve seemed like a hopeless endeavor. So don’t lose hope!
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Just guessing but maybe it is setting them up to protect their government funding etc.. PP has nefarious motives for everything they do.
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Hey Marrie,
Everyone has given you great advice. As you become more involved in the pro-life movement your friends will change. I don’t have much in common with the pro-choice friends I had 10 years ago.
And yes, pro-choice family and friends are a big disappointment. On the other hand, sometimes they do change, although it may take awhile. My dad was more libertarian 10 years ago and now has a Choose Life license plate on his truck. My mom once suggested I abort my oldest son, and she’s now staunchly pro-life.
I try to have forbearance for the other friends and family who don’t see things as I do. I want to win them over, not win debates. So I am not pushy. I just live out my pro-life convictions and allow normal conversations to evolve and the topic to come up.
You have to develop a thick skin, remembering this isn’t about you. You can’t take rejection personally. It does help me to have my Christian faith. I might not even be pro-life if it weren’t for my faith, I don’t know. My faith also helps me keep proper perspective on what’s really going on here, a much bigger battle.
Thanks for asking the questions, Marrie. Stick around!
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Marie
Thanks for sharing! I’m a non-Christian pro-life activist, but am also involved in several other movements (like veganism and death penalty abolition).
I agree with the others on here that Christians in the pro-life movement are generally very welcoming of non-religious people, and are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. But I also echo Kelsey, and think you should definitely try to connect with other non-Christian pro-lifers. A few months ago, I did a training workshop on avoiding burnout in the activist community, and one of the tools I discussed was using Facebook to connect with other like minds. Check out Secular Pro-Life’s Facebook page, introduce yourself, and find the support that you need to keep going in your local community.
And definitely definitely definitely try to get to a large event like the March for Life or the Students for Life Conference in DC. Being surrounded by so many others who are also working for the cause of life is not only fun and inspirational, but gives you the extra oomph you’ll need to get through the tough times at home.
Jill, I wonder if this consolidation of PP affiliates into larger regional offices will have any impact on local support. People may be less interested in supporting the organization if they feel its local leadership isn’t really all that local or responsive to their individual community.
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