This article originally appeared in this issue of the WSR: 2012-12-19
The road to victory is paved with many battles. When articulate community members come forward to speak out against Planned Parenthood at every corner, it is a victory in the making.
That was the case in Portland, Oregon, on December 3 when the school board entertained comments on the topic of Planned Parenthood's Teen Outreach Program (TOP) in the public schools. The abortion giant is using taxpayer dollars to train the teachers and provide the curriculum, which includes after-school excursions with the Planned Parenthood teachers.
If you are fighting Planned Parenthood in your school, or plan to, we highly suggest listening to the testimony presented here, beginning at 12:44. Portland teacher Bill Diss, who has been leading the fight against the TOP program in Portland, speaks beginning at 16:12.
Expert testimony from Dr. William Toffler begins at 19:25. Dr. Toffler is a professor of family medicine who has worked for 27 years at OHSU teaching residents and medical students. He has given national presentations on sex education regarding what does and does not work.
Speaking of TOP, Dr. Toffler says, "Such interventions by Planned Parenthood are at best ineffective and at worst, harmful." He calls Planned Parenthood and the school district to task for setting aside valuable academic time to teach such things as masturbation in a state that has the fourth lowest graduation rate in the U.S. He also calls upon the board to respect and support Mr. Diss and support his right to follow his conscience.
At 22:53, Dr. Tom Owens testifies. He is a retired educator and educational researcher. A former school board member, he holds a Ph.D. in education. Dr. Owens shares his concerns about the involvement of Planned Parenthood in the Portland schools.
Dr. Owens cites three areas of concern: "The emphasis of Planned Parenthood on casual sexual behaviors as separated from the emotional aspects of a committed relationship," "the disrespect shown to our young people who may prefer to abstain from sexual behavior before marriage," and "the emphasis for pregnant teens on the option of abortion with minimum attention to parenting or adoption." He says that Planned Parenthood's participation in the school programs "distorts the meaning of true loving commitments and encourages our youth to regard sex as only an enjoyable pastime." He suggests that Planned Parenthood's contract not be renewed.
At 26:39 Lori Porter, a teacher for 22 years and founder of Parents Rights in Education, speaks. She points to Dr. Miriam Grossman's book, You're Teaching My Child What? for more information on what is happening across the country with harmful sex education. She frames her engaging argument in terms of parents' rights. She addresses the wild claims that the TOP program makes for academic success, saying that the statistics are unbelievable, and that they were put out by someone connected with Planned Parenthood.
At 29:54 you will hear Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers. According to his website, he is the founder and director of DynamicDeacon.com, a Christian evangelization and apologetics organization dedicated to the dissemination and promotion of Catholic values, principles, and teaching in complete faithfulness and total submission to Holy Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium. He served as the chair of the board for the Oregon Department of Public Standards and Training, and is currently chair of the board of Northwest Family Services.
Deacon Burke-Sivers points out that the Planned Parenthood programs are encouraging behavior that many parents find offensive, with abortion as their ultimate end. He cites CDC statistics and the location of the Planned Parenthood school programs to show how Planned Parenthood is targeting the black population for decimation. "Abortion kills as many black people every four days as the Ku Klux Klan killed in 150 years," he says. He presents information on some alternative programs disseminated by Northwest Family Services that help students succeed in life.
Congratulations to Bill Diss and all those in Oregon who are standing firm in the face of persecution to fight Planned Parenthood's presence in the schools.