Cecile Richards’ Testimony: Allegations Over Planned Parenthood Profits Were ‘Offensive And Categorically Untrue’


Cecile Richards’ testimony was the latest in an ongoing battle between Planned Parenthood and the Republican side of Congress. She claims that the videos released about her organization selling fetal tissue and “baby parts” for a profit were “offensive and categorically untrue.”

The Republican party, which often takes the conservative route and follows what they consider Biblical law, believes that abortion is murder. Democrats believe that abortion is justified under the right circumstances, such as rape, inability to raise a child, and the woman’s individual health needs. The occasional need for abortion in those circumstances is part of what Planned Parenthood has always stood behind, but Republicans in Congress have been attempting to shut them down via a cut in state funding.

Both sides have been known for their “smear” campaigns, the latest of which were videos from anti-abortion activists, according to Dallas News. Cecile Richards’ testimony was part of what could result in the company continuing to receive state funding. The videos state that Planned Parenthood is taking the fetuses of the aborted babies and profiting on the sales, enraging conservatives across the nation.

Richards’ statement claimed that the videos were edited to make the company look like they were profiting from the sale of fetal tissues. She says that Planned Parenthood had only donated a small amount of fetal tissue and only recouped reasonable costs as allowed by law. The Washington Post reports that Cecile Richards’ testimony revealed her organization is more than just an abortion clinic, that it provides HIV testing and cancer screenings for low-income women as well.

“For many American women, Planned Parenthood is the only health-care provider they will see this year. It is impossible for our patients to understand why Congress is once again threatening their ability to go to the health-care provider of their choice.”

The Planned Parenthood president’s words scored a victory for the business, since Republicans in Congress had been threatening to shut down the government if annual payments to the organization weren’t eliminated entirely. The battle isn’t over, though, since the October 1 shutdown has been postponed until December 11, when Cecile Richards may need to give additional testimony.

U.S. Congressmen aren’t the only ones trying to eliminate abortion from government spending. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Pope Francis had visited a convent owned by the Little Sisters in an effort to show his support for their lawsuit. The legal battle involves Obamacare mandating that the Little Sisters and other businesses provide funding for abortions, which violates their religious beliefs.

Currently, federal law allows Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics to recoup the costs from providing fetal tissue to researchers, as long as they aren’t profiting from it. According to Cecile Richards’ testimony, that is exactly what is happening, and the videos were grossly inaccurate. Republicans in the government are allegedly not satisfied with the mandate, feeling that abortion clinics shouldn’t be funded at all.

Representative Elijah Cummings, a Democrat from Maryland, accused Republicans of singling out Planned Parenthood due to ideological opposition to abortion. He stated that banks and other private organizations have made millions while engaging in illegal practices.

Even supporters of Planned Parenthood donning pink shirts had been there to show support but were left outside the room, unable to interact with Cecile Richards’ testimony. Emily Hein was one of them and gave an account of what had happened.

“They offered us an overflow room, which is upstairs. Most of our volunteers went up there. But there are some of us still outside in line, because we would like to be a part of the hearing.”

The battle between Republicans and abortion clinics isn’t going to end anytime soon, as it has been raging for decades. Now Planned Parenthood is in jeopardy of losing its funding from the government if Democrats can’t find a way to justify the existence of abortion clinics and come to an agreement.

[Feature image via Mark Wilson / Getty Images]

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