Markus Archus
Veteran Member
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29787
MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH
Is 'Choice on Earth'
'Abortion on Earth'?
Planned Parenthood enraging Christians by twisting Bible theme on holiday cards
Posted: November 26, 2002
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Joe Kovacs
© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
At a time of year when many start thinking about "peace on Earth," Planned Parenthood is expanding its controversial "Choice on Earth" holiday greeting-card theme, increasing its stock of cards and T-shirts for sale.
"Our supporters are so energized by the vicious criticism of our holiday card that we're printing additional cards and limited-edition 'choice on Earth' T-shirts," said Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt.
"Planned Parenthood believes in every individual's right to make choices and live in peace with our planet and wishes people of all beliefs a peaceful and safe holiday season," she said.
The reproductive-rights group has been selling holiday cards with the "Choice on Earth" message for eight years, but the issue has gained national attention now that the cards are posted online for the public to purchase, as well as a media campaign by a pro-life group called STOPP – Stop Planned Parenthood.
"Recent anti-choice attacks on Planned Parenthood's 'Choice on Earth' holiday card are absurd," said Feldt in a prepared statement. "A very popular greeting card among America's pro-choice majority for almost a decade, it sends an inclusive seasonal message for people of all faiths. ...
"STOPP has generated anti-Christian allegations against the 'Choice on Earth' card. The sole mission of this organization, which serves no redeeming purpose, is to shut down Planned Parenthood ... ."
The executive director of STOPP, Jim Sedlak, makes no secret about his intention to curtail Planned Parenthood's activities, and is looking to publicize the holiday theme.
"What 'choice on Earth' really means is 'abortion on Earth,' Sedlak told WorldNetDaily. "In the season that celebrates the birth of Jesus, it is absolutely outrageous to have cards celebrating the death of babies."
The controversial theme is a diversion from a passage in the Gospel of Luke, where an angel announces to shepherds the birth of their savior in Bethlehem.
According to the King James version of the Bible: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13,14)
When Guy Hurst, a Catholic resident of Virginia first saw the card, he didn't object, saying it appeared "so generic," until learning Planned Parenthood was the group responsible for the products.
"That's an affront," Hurst told WorldNetDaily. "Everybody has heard the phrase 'peace on Earth' and for this card to say 'choice on Earth,' they're just trying to ride on the popularity of the Christmas message. ...
"There's a million things that I'm offended by, and this is another one of the million. Some people will totally ridicule anything to do with God."
Sedlak at STOPP is hoping to draw the public's attention to taxpayer money that flows to Planned Parenthood, over $200 million annually, he says, 75 percent of which is from the federal government.
"If we could just shut off this government money, Planned Parenthood would be history, or really ineffective," he said.
Like many websites, Planned Parenthood operates an online store where visitors can purchase literature and promotional material. In addition to greeting cards, the store sells items such as magnets celebrating diversity on behalf of homosexuals and abortion-pill pen holders. It previously has come under fire for giving out condoms which look like lollipops, advertising the address of its teen-oriented website.
The controversy over this year's holiday cards has made it to at least one national news-analysis show.
During a segment last week on "The O'Reilly Factor" on the Fox News Channel, Patricia Ireland, the former director of the National Organization for Women, defended the "Choice on Earth" theme.
"Gosh, I can't think of a better time of year to remind everyone of the need for tolerance and for freedom among the major religious groups and among individuals," Ireland said.
"Jesus Christ would not be out sending a card that says 'Choice on Earth,'" responded host Bill O'Reilly. "In fact, I think he would be disappointed that that card went out."
MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH
Is 'Choice on Earth'
'Abortion on Earth'?
Planned Parenthood enraging Christians by twisting Bible theme on holiday cards
Posted: November 26, 2002
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Joe Kovacs
© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
At a time of year when many start thinking about "peace on Earth," Planned Parenthood is expanding its controversial "Choice on Earth" holiday greeting-card theme, increasing its stock of cards and T-shirts for sale.
"Our supporters are so energized by the vicious criticism of our holiday card that we're printing additional cards and limited-edition 'choice on Earth' T-shirts," said Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt.
"Planned Parenthood believes in every individual's right to make choices and live in peace with our planet and wishes people of all beliefs a peaceful and safe holiday season," she said.
The reproductive-rights group has been selling holiday cards with the "Choice on Earth" message for eight years, but the issue has gained national attention now that the cards are posted online for the public to purchase, as well as a media campaign by a pro-life group called STOPP – Stop Planned Parenthood.
"Recent anti-choice attacks on Planned Parenthood's 'Choice on Earth' holiday card are absurd," said Feldt in a prepared statement. "A very popular greeting card among America's pro-choice majority for almost a decade, it sends an inclusive seasonal message for people of all faiths. ...
"STOPP has generated anti-Christian allegations against the 'Choice on Earth' card. The sole mission of this organization, which serves no redeeming purpose, is to shut down Planned Parenthood ... ."
The executive director of STOPP, Jim Sedlak, makes no secret about his intention to curtail Planned Parenthood's activities, and is looking to publicize the holiday theme.
"What 'choice on Earth' really means is 'abortion on Earth,' Sedlak told WorldNetDaily. "In the season that celebrates the birth of Jesus, it is absolutely outrageous to have cards celebrating the death of babies."
The controversial theme is a diversion from a passage in the Gospel of Luke, where an angel announces to shepherds the birth of their savior in Bethlehem.
According to the King James version of the Bible: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13,14)
When Guy Hurst, a Catholic resident of Virginia first saw the card, he didn't object, saying it appeared "so generic," until learning Planned Parenthood was the group responsible for the products.
"That's an affront," Hurst told WorldNetDaily. "Everybody has heard the phrase 'peace on Earth' and for this card to say 'choice on Earth,' they're just trying to ride on the popularity of the Christmas message. ...
"There's a million things that I'm offended by, and this is another one of the million. Some people will totally ridicule anything to do with God."
Sedlak at STOPP is hoping to draw the public's attention to taxpayer money that flows to Planned Parenthood, over $200 million annually, he says, 75 percent of which is from the federal government.
"If we could just shut off this government money, Planned Parenthood would be history, or really ineffective," he said.
Like many websites, Planned Parenthood operates an online store where visitors can purchase literature and promotional material. In addition to greeting cards, the store sells items such as magnets celebrating diversity on behalf of homosexuals and abortion-pill pen holders. It previously has come under fire for giving out condoms which look like lollipops, advertising the address of its teen-oriented website.
The controversy over this year's holiday cards has made it to at least one national news-analysis show.
During a segment last week on "The O'Reilly Factor" on the Fox News Channel, Patricia Ireland, the former director of the National Organization for Women, defended the "Choice on Earth" theme.
"Gosh, I can't think of a better time of year to remind everyone of the need for tolerance and for freedom among the major religious groups and among individuals," Ireland said.
"Jesus Christ would not be out sending a card that says 'Choice on Earth,'" responded host Bill O'Reilly. "In fact, I think he would be disappointed that that card went out."
