By Amber Roseboom, President of Right to Life of Michigan
Planned Parenthood’s deceptive charade to present itself as something it is not is one of the most egregious scams in recent history. That’s saying a lot when you consider the offenses of Enron and folks like Bernie Madoff. Yet there are none more nefarious and damaging than Planned Parenthood’s assault on the American public. An entire generation of women led to believe a cold, money-hungry advocacy machine cares for them in their time of need. Girls in pink shirts with nowhere to turn. That’s what Planned Parenthood counts on.
George Washington famously said, “Truth will ultimately prevail where there [are] pains to bring it to light.”
Planned Parenthood, the largest profiteer from abortion in the country, is nestled in federal coffers sucking up $700 million in taxpayer dollars in 2023 alone. Meanwhile, its leaders spout unfounded claims of financial woes, while their affiliate CEOs are awarded extraordinary salaries ranking in the 98th percentile of all U.S. workers, according to the American Life League.
With the cash flowing, they sacrifice women’s health at the altar of their radical agenda.
In March, The New York Times published an expose highlighting a troubling trend at Planned Parenthood clinics, one of incorrect diagnoses, inadequate medical equipment, and heightened risks and outcomes for women. The report demonstrated that the organization now prioritizes its radical political agenda over providing direct services in communities.
In Michigan, the radical proabortion agenda they push has led to dangerous outcomes for women, with a shocking spike in serious complications from abortion, up 38% in one year. (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, 2023 Abortion Report).
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
With the bottom falling out, it’s no wonder Planned Parenthood is on the prowl for ways to operate in the shadows, seeking to strip parental consent for abortion while expanding their reach in our schools. Planned Parenthood is targeting minors with lies and misinformation whilst setting themselves up as “someone [the only one] who cares in time of need.”
In each and every state, the prolife movement is in a race against Planned Parenthood to reach an entire generation of women and girls with the truth about abortion and a message of hope that invites a choice for life.
Here in Michigan, abortion is legal through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason. Planned Parenthood is in communities across our state, and across the country, peddling their lies to line their pocketbooks. Our task is to reach women where they are, online and in their communities, with compassion, the truth about abortion and a message that invites a choice for life.
In an age in which a record number of our neighbors are experiencing isolation, we must build a circle of trust for women and girls facing unplanned pregnancies, one that welcomes them in and offers another path forward. We can only do this together.
It takes all of us: Prolife advocacy organizations like Right to Life of Michigan to educate in communities and elect prolife candidates to enact legislation that values and safeguards women while respecting human life; Pregnancy Resources Centers to offer care and services in a woman’s time of need; and you, the supporter, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us in communities and to offer your financial support.
This circle of trust tells women Planned Parenthood is not their only option, and it is not even their best option.
At Right to Life of Michigan, our educational efforts are expansive and integrated under the mantra “Life. The Other Choice.” Abortion advocates want women to believe abortion is the only choice. We have another message for them!
The tip of the spear in our efforts is a multi-media “Life. The Other Choice.” ad campaign. First launched in 2024, the ads (found at rtl.org/videos) not only reshape public opinion to value life, they move women facing unplanned pregnancies to a life-saving choice in one call or text to a Pregnancy Help Line (1-800-712-HELP). This helpline saw a 14% surge in calls when the ads were up. We are also hearing about increased foot traffic at Pregnancy Resource Centers in our state. Women helped. Lives saved! Later this month, we are relaunching the next phase of “Life. The Other Choice.”
Let’s recommit ourselves to building prolife partnerships across our communities that offer women a place to come, a life-saving circle of trust built on compassion, the truth and hope!