Some Catholics are hoping that Planned Parenthood will join the infamous ranks of the historical enemies of the church, and the American Life League (ALL) has prepared a report asking Pope Francis to do just that. Entitled “Defend the Family,” ALL launched the campaign in advance of the Vatican’s October Synod on the Family.
The 7-point plan elaborates on the offenses of the abortion provider to the doctrine and foundation of the church itself. In a video, ALL introduces the report, saying:
“That Catholic Church has had many enemies over the centuries. Through persecutions, heresies, schisms and scandals, the powers of darkness have always found earthly allies willing to try to try to destroy Christ’s plan for the world…. Planned Parenthood is carrying on the work of killing and ruining souls. It’s very existence stands in direct opposition to Catholic teaching.”
Some of the reasons cited include that Planned Parenthood “corrupts” children with promiscuity and sex ed programs, hosts sex parties, mocks Christianity, and “kills hundreds of thousands of pre-born children every year.”
Being named an enemy isn’t just a symbol. There’s a precedence in the church of declaring enemies and ex-communicating those who are associated with those declared enemies:
“Historically, popes have identified and condemned organizations which pose a grave threat to the Catholic Church. In 1738, Pope Clement XII issued a clear and strict condemnation of Freemasonry. His condemnation was so firm that Catholics were forbidden, under pain of excommunication, to join a Masonic lodge, to receive Freemasons into their homes, to be present with them, or “to help them in any way, to give them in any way advice, encouragement or support either openly or in secret, directly or indirectly, on their own or through others.”
“In 1949, Pope Pius XII issued a Decree Against Communism, wherein all Catholics who vote for a communist, who join a communist party, or who write pro-communist books or magazines are excluded from the sacraments. Furthermore, those Catholics who defend, promulgate, or declare communist materialism are also automatically excommunicated.
“Planned Parenthood is just such an enemy of the Church. The International Planned Parenthood Federation and its country affiliates are creating the problems which are causing the moral decay of our culture. Their total dedication to, and insistence on, recreational sex and the killing of children through abortion make Planned Parenthood the single most harmful influence on society.”
Planned Parenthood, while most identifiable to us in its American incarnation, is part of a greater world organization, the International Planned Parenthood Federation of and, as ALL points out, is active almost everywhere there are people.
ALL says, “The family is the cradle of life and the cradle of the Church. Planned Parenthood exists to rob the cradle and destroy the family. It pits itself directly against the Church in its bid to do so.”
As Catholic bishops head to the October Synod on the Family, ALL has made sure that each has a copy of the report. They are asking Catholics to pray Prayers after Mass, and to stand together to pray that the Pope will declare Planned Parenthood an enemy of the church.
ALL offers suggestions of how to help spread the word, pray, and unite over this issue:
- Printing, signing, and mailing back to American Life League our Declaration of Encouragement to the Holy Father.
- Enrolling in the Spiritual Bouquet for the Holy Father
- Distributing our brochures; Defend the Family Campaign (coming soon to the online store), Why Do We Oppose Planned Parenthood?, Planned Parenthood Steals Souls.
- Using our fact sheets on Planned Parenthood (not available yet)
- Downloading and printing the Defend the Family prayer card
- Having your parish publish this bulletin insert (Word Document).
- Telling your friends and family about this campaign.
As ALL notes, “Ultimately, if Planned Parenthood is declared an enemy of the Catholic Church, babies and souls will be saved, and a great step forward for the gospel of life will have been taken.”
The entire report may be downloaded here.
