Planned Parenthood's official response

From what I've read, you're blog isn't quite true. It appears that only Three aldermen voted on this, and they were guided by staff that this was a routine type usage. For some reason, it was not forwarded to the whole City Council. In these minutes, Alderman Elmore asked specifically "Do You Know Who The Tenant is Going to Be?" and they said "We are in negotiations right now but nothing is finalized". We now realize that this was a complete lie. For Mr. Trombley would write a letter that in essence state that the City failed to do it's job shows what type of organization Planned Parenthood really is. They masked their identity; presented it as a simple medical building; when all along they were laughing at the City. My question is thus: If it was such common Knowledge, then the Mayor as the CEO of the City is ultimately responsible for the failure of his staff to do their job properly and with accuracy.

This is a failure of the good Citizens of Aurora and the harmony of all the neighborhoods surrounding this horrible place.

RESPONSE FROM DAVE PARRO:

B. Matilda,

You are correct that the three-member Planning and Development Committee approved the Gemini medical complex in November after the zoning had been previously approved by the full City Council. That is the normal process.

I should have been more clear that not all of the aldermen voted on the specific development.

Trombley writes:

Does it truly come as a surprise, then, that as we complied with all legal and public disclosure requirements, we simultaneously sought to keep this private while the construction was proceeding because the zealots who have been opposing our new facility have a well-documented history of violence and criminal activity?

To Steve Trombley:

It appears that planned parenthood thrives on deceit and lies, and the only violence that will be happening at your building is the torturing and destruction of tiny human babies.
How unfortuante for them that they cant surround themselves with brick and bullet proof glass to save their lives.

I am one of those who saw the report on youtube.com under planned parenthood exposed. Your organization will say and do anything to convince a girl/woman to abort her child. Even going to the lengths of deceiving the law.

I will be praying along with many others that the city of Aurora will not be bullied by your organization and that they will take a firm stand against the injustices that have and will be done by planned parenthood.

Just out of curiousity how does a not for profit organizaton have the funds to wage a legal battle. if the city decides to take a stand?

I was on the Planned Parenthood's website "teen wire" and as a parent it is very disturbed by one section. It was called "ask the expert" and the entry stated that the middle school student was pregnant and wanted to keep the baby. The answer was very negative in terms of keeping the baby. It didn't stress adoption at all and pointed to many anti-keeping statements. I am not arguing that single partenthood is not work; but sometimes the benefits outweigh the work. This was a very slanted review.

Also, on this website, I do not like the bluntness of "You should tell your parents, but in some states you don't have to" That just goes on not involving the parents. I would think it would be better to have then call a counselor if they feel they can't tell their parents, rather than broadcasting it for all to see.

There is a slant to this website and I can see it leading to sway a girl into an abortion.

Planned Parenthood is an important asset for any community. When I was in undergrad in Florida, we went there for low cost health care, STD testing, and low-price birth control pills and condoms. I never even knew any Planned Parenthoods offered abortions until recently - but it's important that there's a safe place for that service, too.

In all my experiences with Planned Parenthood, they were nothing but even handed with their advice and information, plus they offer real medical advice and services - not just scans and propaganda.

It's also always important to remember that while many people can talk to their parents about an unexpected pregnancy, many others cannot or will not. Personally, if I lived somewhere with a parental notification law and I'd gotten pregnant, I would have hopped in a car and driven until I got somewhere where I could get the medical services I needed. Nothing and no one could have compelled me to talk to my parents about it.

Liz,

Do you truly feel that a 12 or 13 yr. old girl should be allowed to make the decision, with total strangers, to abort a baby?

Statistics show that many young girls become very guilt ridden for hiding such a secret from their parents, and they turn to drugs or alchohol....

As one of our alderman stated, these young girls cannot get a tatoo without their parents permission, but they can be subjected to a procedure that invades their body, ends the life of the baby they are carrying, and risk complications such as infection, bleeding etc. without their parents ever knowing!!

Planned parenthood lied to the city of Aurora....They built their largest building in a neighborhood surrounded by homes, retail shops and a highschool within walking distance....All in an area where there arent very many who require low cost healthchare....
So, who are they targeting??? There were over 700 young people protesting on Saturday because they are insulted at being the target of planned parenthood.....

Go to priestsforlife.org and read the sad but true testimonies of all those who have aborted and regret it....

As a mother and grandmother I cannot understand how we have come to live in a society where our young girls can obtain condoms, and when they fail go back to the same so called 'clinic' to get rid of their baby........

Norma McCorvey, the Jane Roe of Roe V Wade, came to realize herself what an atrocity she helped bring about and is now trying to get Roe V Wade reversed.....

A nation who destroys the most innocent of human beings, will never find peace or have hope......

Medical services and healthcare. Do they not signify treating and healing. How can a deliberate, painful ending of a baby's life be called healtcare?

Someone said at the Aurora City Council meeting last Tuesday that if someone told the city they were going to have a book store, but it turned out to be an "adult" porno store or if someone else told the city they were going to have a used car lot and it turned out to be a car junk yard, the city would definitely say they were deceived and reverse the permit and deny occupancy.

The same applies to Planned Parenthood - they said it was going to be a "medical facility" and it turned out to be an abortion clinic! The city should reverse the permit and deny occupance in this case too!

Thank you for the chance to voice our opinions out in the open here in print form against this evil, evil "business" known as Planned Parenthood--As one of our Youths in the Youth for Truth blog put it---they deceive right from the get go---------their real name should be "Unplanned Unparenthood!!!" What bright youth we have---we have youth in PRO-LIFE---NOT so with the opposition--oh I'm sorry your mission is to destroy your youth--the weak, the unwanted????? ENOUGH!
Mr. Parro --it is an honor to be back in circulation --again thanks for your comments on this controversial/political/moral/etc----------issue---Thank God we in Pro-life are here for the duration of our LIVES to dedicate our prayers, peaceful efforts of educating the public on protecting the most vunerable population on this planet--------
THE UNBORN!

God Bless Us All and have mercy on our souls--

Sincerely,
Laurie Meisch-Paulson

P.S. A lie is a lie---no matter how much homework you try to do---

Aldermen, Mayor, City of Aurora we were deceived from the get go--
Now let's UNITE as a City and run this "Medical Service Building" out of town----------out of business---no more taxpayers' $$$$$$$$$ to these murderers! We have the chance --let's have the guts to shut them down NOW!!! Amen---LMP

Does the burden fall on the city to do its homework, or is the developer obligated to volunteer all the facts?

I don't think that either party failed to act in a consistent manner. Clearly there's a demand for this clinic in this area, or the city wouldn't have approved it to begin with, and I can't see officials blindly fumbling into a contract that is potentially costly to them (in terms of both money and careers) if it's mishandled.

The reason the 'developer' (PP in this instance) was so quiet about its presence should be painfully obvious - the zealots intent on denying all women affordable healthcare options. What legitimate protest party stalks and harasses people that have nothing to do with policy, but are just there to do their jobs and serve their patients? Yet PLAN has gleefully announced that they are going to do exactly that - stalk and harass anyone who has anything to do with Planned Parenthood.

The poster who complained about the Teen Wire site: Is this the article that you read? (Text follows)

From this link:

I am pregnant and the guy that i had sex with doesn't want anything to do with me now! My parents are trying to make me get an abortion but i don't want to! My friends said that they won't talk to me anymore if I get an abortion! I try to talk to my parents, but they won't listen and i try to talk to my friends and tell them that i don't want to do it but my parents are making me but they won't listen either!!! Since i'm only in middle school everyone says the principal will kick me out of the school when I get bigger!!! I just feel all alone, WHAT DO I DO????????

That's the teenager's letter. This is the PP editor's response:

No one can make you get an abortion if you don't want one. Abortion providers only perform abortions for women who have made the decision to have one.[Emphasis mine] Having a baby because your friends think you should, or having an abortion because your parents think you should, may not be what is best for you. You may learn from the advice other people give you, but you have to decide what's best for yourself. A woman who has an unintended pregnancy has three options. She can raise the child, place the child for adoption, or have an abortion. Every woman needs to decide which option is best for her, but deciding may be hard to do.

Talking with a trusted adult, such as a teacher, religious adviser, or trained counselor, may help you with your decision. You may want to find out if your school has counselors, or call [number] to be connected with someone at a Planned Parenthood health center who is trained to discuss your options with you.

There are many things to think about before deciding to have and raise a child. Once a person becomes a parent, she or he is responsible for another person for at least the next 18 years. Raising a child involves a major commitment in time and money. And in general, teenage mothers do not do as well in life as teens who delay childbearing. Their family incomes are lower. They are more likely to be poor and receive welfare, they are less educated, and they are less likely to be married. Their children may also have a harder time growing up.

Here are some things to think about before becoming a parent:

• Am I ready to help a child feel wanted and loved 24 hours a day for the next 18 years and beyond?
• Can I talk about my feelings and other important things with the father of the child, my partner, family, and friends? Will I have their support?
• Am I ready to accept full responsibility for parenting and go it alone, if it becomes necessary? Will I have enough money to support myself and a child?
• Am I mature enough to keep from harming the child physically or emotionally? (I won't ridicule, humiliate, slap, hit, shake, or threaten my child no matter what happens, no matter how frustrated I get.)
• Am I ready to seek whatever counseling I need to become a better parent?
• Am I ready to give up my social life with my friends to take care of my baby?
• Am I ready to put my school or career plans on hold?

Even with the help of your family and friends, being a single parent is not easy. It is often complicated and frustrating. Your child's needs will constantly change and so will your ability to meet those needs.

Nothing problematic in there as far as I can see.

The answer was very negative in terms of keeping the baby. It didn't stress adoption at all and pointed to many anti-keeping statements. I am not arguing that single partenthood is not work; but sometimes the benefits outweigh the work.

Perhaps that's because teenage parenthood IS overwhelmingly negative for those involved? You only ever hear about the ones who managed to make it despite their tough situations because America loves a good success story. The sad truth is that the majority of teenage parents can't move beyond poverty level because of the expenses involved in raising a child before they're prepared for that responsibility. If it wasn't, you'd be hearing nothing but teenage success stories.

As for adoption, clearly it was mentioned in the reply. The emphasis is on the teenager's making her own decision as opposed to letting anybody else dictate it for her.

There is a slant to this website and I can see it leading to sway a girl into an abortion.

More likely it's a case of people taking PP's words way out of context and adjusting them to suit their own purposes. Happens all the time, especially if you mention founder Margaret Sanger. Her prejudices were VERY common in society during HER lifetime - think back to how many old people you know that have referred to certain people in derogatory terms, even though they may not truly hate them. That this prejudice is wrong is unquestionable. The only reason those elders do it is because they were never taught any better by THEIR parents. Ignorance only produces more ignorance. THAT is why Sanger pushed so hard for contraceptive education and women's rights.

Using her words out of context punishes her for her one flaw while the good she did do - which was to bring affordable healthcare to low-income women (and more than a few men as well) - gets ignored. And that's the real tragedy, that so many females are paying the price for the ignorance of a small minority that wants to intimidate everyone into doing what they want - which is at heart, to punish women for daring to think that they have the same personal autonomy and God-given freedom of choice as men do.

- Meredith

I listened and watched the video on youtube.com under planned parenthood exposed. I encourage everyone to do the same. This report was done by an undercover reporter, and you will learn the truth about this deceitful organization.

Meredith refers to woman making a decision, adoclescents and teens are not woman! They should not be making major decisions in their life such as birth control and abortion without their parents knowledge.

Doesnt planned parenthood get the message from our youth. They DO NOT want to be targeted by this organization. 700 of our young ones demonstrated on Saturday to show their disgust toward planned parenthood.

Any parent surely knows how tempting a 'corner clinic' where their teens can obtain birth control without their knowledge might be very hard for their children to resist. That is sad enough, but they can also return there to have their bodies invaded and their babies murdered!

Is this what parents want or need in their neighborhood? Is this what the city of Aurora wants?

If planned parenthood cares so much for others, why didnt they put their building in an area where people cant afford healthcare and do not have transportation to get there. They built in a middle to upper class neighborhood. Why?

And Meredith, we know the truth about Margaret Sanger, how sad that you would even defend her.

Planned parenthood uses the excuse that they lied to the city of Aurora because they were afraid of violence from protestors~As I stated before, the only true violence that will happen at that building is the brutal torturing of innocent babies and then they will thrown into the garbage! What happened to their God given rights?

To Meredith:

You come across as one of the so called counselors who works for planned parenthood~does it make you feel superior to point out all the negatives of keeping her baby, to a frightened teen girl?

Any girl who is pregnant and you feel like you have no one to turn to please contact one of the following:

OptionLine

Option Line consultants refer each caller to a pregnancy resource center in her area for answers to questions about abortion, pregnancy tests, STD's, adoption, parenting, medical referrals, housing, and many other issues. The toll-free number is available to callers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Callers from across the country can reach a trained, caring person and then be connected to a pregnancy resource center near them for one-on-one help. Option Line is a call center located in Columbus, Ohio, formed as a joint venture between Care Net and Heartbeat International.

1-800-395-HELP or E-Mail

Birthright

Birthright has a network of almost a thousand pregnancy help centers throughout the United States, These centers offer pregnancy testing, counseling, and resources, including medical, financial, and personal assistance. The Birthright philosophy is that a woman coming in for help does not represent a "statistic", or an "issue,", but is rather a human being looking for help and support in a time of need. In addition to pregnancy help services, Birthright also provides links to doctors and others in the local community who can help a woman after the birth of her child.

1-800-550-4900

National Life Center

National Life Center's 24-hour hotline directs you to the closest Crisis Pregnancy Center in the United States and Canada.

1-800-848-LOVE

Bethany Christian Services

Bethany Christian Services is one of the nation's leading providers of adoption and crisis pregnancy support information. They operate a national hotline which is active from 8 AM to 12 PM, 7 days a week. This hotline routes callers to one of 56 local offices which can then provide local and regional information.

On-going education and support for parents are offered through our adoption support services. Bethany acknowledges that adoption is a life-long process and that adoptive families sometimes have unique issues and concerns. Bethany's adoption pre-screening and placement program is one of the most recommended in the country, and they have placed more than 11,000 children in adoptive homes. In addition, Bethany provides good community-based follow-up, both for women who choose adoption or who raise their child themselves.

1-800-BETHANY

The Nurturing Network

Some 32,000 volunteer member resources nationwide provide individually tailored practical support to college and working women with unplanned pregnancies including counseling, medical, residential, educational, employment and financial resources.

Several Sources Foundation

Several Sources Foundation provides a 24-hour crisis pregnancy help line which can connect any caller to their local pregnancy help resources, including Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, and others. Their database of pregnancy help resources is one of the most complete in the nation. See for yourself at their great website!

1-800-662-2678

Gabriel Project

From the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Dr. Marcella Colbert directs this Catholic ministry that evangelizes and saves lives, using the local parish as the haven in which women who are pregnant and in need can hear an echo of Gabriel’s message, “You have nothing to fear!”

And please read the following:

The legalization of abortion doesn't just affect the women who have abortions and the fetuses aborted. Abortion affects every one of us, alive with the right to life. In the late 1960s and early 1970s abortion rights supporters promised that through the legalization of abortion society would be improved. Fewer teenagers would become pregnant. Child abuse would drop. Children would only live in homes that could support them. Children would live in more loving homes and crime rates would drop. Yet, either because of or coincidentally with Roe vs. Wade, history has shown the opposite. Abortion has opened up a "back way out:" an excuse to have unsafe sex, and an excuse for violent murder. Our society, and the children who have grown up in the abortion-filled world, have been negatively affected.

Abortion is not a solution.

Meridith says that PP attempts to level the playing field by offering women the "same personal autonomy and God-given freedom of choice as men...". If that were the case, a man could "choose" to walk away scot-free from his pregnant girlfriend regardless of any "choice" she makes. If she can kill her baby without any input from the father, following the same logic he should be able to opt out of fatherhood.

Then, the playing field would be level.

Of course, walking away from your duties as a father is nearly as vile as killing the baby. It is not my intent to endorse such reprehensible behavior, but if you can "choose" to not be a mother, why can't a man "choose" to not be a father?

Thanks to DNA technology, men no longer have the option of walking away from acknowledging or supporting a baby. I would advise a young woman to take the father of her baby to court and have him take a paternity test--if it's proven that he's the father then he will be liable to financially support the child until age 18!

Guys should be aware that there's no free pass anymore. An unplanned pregnancy has consequences for them as well as for the woman they slept with!

I have heard and read in the paper that there is a need. I would like to see where the need is locating the Planned Parenthood facility in one of the most affluent areas of Aurora; and in DuPage County. The low income areas are around the downtown. If there truly was a need; wouldn't that be there? Unfortunately, the low income areas are mostly hispanic (who are mostly Catholic) and would not use their abortion services; however, I do think a regular clinic would have sufficed if they truly wanted to help the poor women of this area.

Like any good business; they looked to the population that had more disposable income and could afford the costly abortion services. These are the "poor" little rich girls with tons of money to blow; mostly suffering from absent parents who work all the time and are divorced and they are using "high class" drugs.

The Low Income, mostly hispanic catholics are strong family oriented parents that are there for their family. They are properly served by the VNA and Aunt Martha's that are in the downtown area and recently the VNA just moved to a large location. It is a farce that there is a need; and if there is a need -- where is the proof? It appears to me to be all hearsay.

The devil is in the details. The more details that seem to be uncovered; the more "devil" seems to appear.

Dave,
Thank you for your comment.

To A Truth Seeker,

Does it make you feel superior to insult Meredith who is merely engaging in a dialogue? The comments that she posted there were directly from a letter on Teen Wire. She was pointing out that the information was not slanted one way or another, but gave all options and reinforced that it is the pregnant teen's decision to make, not her friends or her parents.

You could have been much more effective with the information you were giving had you left out your comments toward Meredith. You lost my interest at that moment.

I personally am on the fence in this issue. I do not believe that abortion should be used as birth control since birth control is easily available, yet I do feel there are extreme situations where abortion should be available. I think Teen Wire is a valid resource for those teens who may not be able to talk to their parents about these issues.

I also believe that dialogue is good and think that everyone on this blog should be allowed to state their feelings, beliefs, and make their cases. Let's try arguing and discussing issues, opinions, and facts in the future without resorting to personal attacks.

To the person defending Meredith:

I am attacking no one. The negative advise she posted to teen girls is an attack on the baby they might be carrying, and encourages a frightened teen into aborting her baby.

My very point is: There should not be a law that allows a young girl or teen to make such an important decision such as birth control and most definitely abortion. These are decisions that will affect them the rest of their lives, and abortion ends the life of a human being.
What parent who loves their daughter would want her subjected to a procedure that kills a baby, and subjects the mother to infection, hemorhagging plus numerous complications, not to mention the guilt their child may experience from keeping such a secret from thier parent or parents.

Does anyone have an explanation as to why planned parenthood put this building in this middle to upper class neighborhood? They boast that they care so much for womens healthcare, is it not hyppocritical not to have built in an area where there is more obvious poverty? Myself and numerous others would like to know their true reason for building where they did.

We can only come to our own conclusions that planned parenthood is deliberately targeting the young people in the Waubonsie Valley highschool area. Hopefully p.p. got the message from so many young people (at least 700 of them) when they protested
against the deceitful tactics of planned parenthood.

Again, anyone who wants to know the truth about planned parenthood, please go to: youtube.com and check out planned parenthood exposed.

Unborn babies have a God given right to live on this earth. They have no voice of their own, it is our God given right to be their voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18IKmx6wsYk
Check out the above and decide if you want this organization in your neighborhood.