The following comes from a January 16 story by Jill Stanek on LifeNews.com.
Last week Planned Parenthood revealed a surprising new strategy, abandonment of the term, “pro-choice.” Its poll numbers showed 28.5% of voters identify themselves as both or neither:
Planned Parenthood recognizes it already has the blue voters, and that it will never get the red voters, so it is trying to win over the ambivalent middle.
And, of course, PP also seeks to give persuade abortion-vulnerable mothers, in part by getting people with pro-life opinions to back away from them.
PP is making an overt push for moral relativity, as is clear in its new ad, released yesterday. Note that PP freely uses the term “pro-life” – only because it suits their purposes.
PP also unveiled its new website, “Not In Her Shoes.” Not coincidentally, the National Women’s Law Center also unveiled a “Not In Her Shoes” tumblr page, so this is going to be a widespread campaign on the Left.
More than trying to get people to stifle judgment, Planned Parenthood is trying to stop the debate altogether.
From the ad:
So the next time you talk about abortion, don’t let the labels box you in.
Have a different conversation.
A conversation that doesn’t divide you, but is based on mutual respect and empathy.
In other words, let’s just agree to disagree, because we all know disagreeing about abortion is disrespectful and heartless.
To see the You Tube video, click here.
To read the LifeNews story, click here.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen spoke about having dinner with a Priest who continually berated the Church for “stealing from the people”. After so much of this, and likely under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the Archbishop confronted the Priest with the startling inspiration of the actual truth: “How long have you been stealing from the collection box?” After several denials, the Priest finally admitted it.
Very few people are operating on a rational, intellectual basis. They’re perpetually on the quest to answer “the question within the question”. When we sin, we don’t start out by adhering to an ideology, we first live the sinful lifestyle, then formulate our rationalization superstructure to justify what we’re doing.
On the Youtube EWTN channel, Dr. Carl Landwehr commented (“Life on the Rock – Prolife Message – Fr Mark and Fr Anthony w Carl Landwehr”, November 19, 2010): We can’t just open up the confused people’s heads and do a dogma dump, after which they’ll suddenly understand the truth and then everything will be alright. They’re already living a lie, and so practice routine disregard of the truth.
Most of us are subject to what St. Paul wrote in Romans 1:18-22 “The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes of eternal power and Divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what He has made. As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord Him glory as God or give Him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools…” When we disrespect The Truth, Who is Jesus Christ Himself, the Lord Who respects us as made in His Own Image and Likeness, can only honor our preferences and give us over to the sins and lies we have embraced instead of Him.
Therefore, the best approach for the vast majority is not to pose piquant arguments, which our senseless minds deny, but to use the science of marketing psychology to deal with the problem on the subjective level of impressions and emotions. This is what the Vitae Caring project does. It’s what we, who have been preaching to the choir all these years, as we miss the one-third of young women who are most upwardly mobile and immune to our arguments and even psychological persuasions, should have been paying attention to, ever since Paul Swope wrote “Abortion: A Failure to Communicate” in the April, 1998 edition of First Things.
We’ve had nearly fifteen years to stop listening to our own head-chatter and start paying attention to why the lost souls are wandering in darkness. Only then will be become wise as those serpents who have wrecked the lives of several generations.
John Smith:
We must become wise as serpents, yes, but without losing the innocence of doves. If we can’t begin with dogma, we have to get to it sometime, for dogma is the Truth that is Christ, to which all of us must give witness. We can employ some of our enemies’ weapons against them up to a point, but in the end it is their core arguments that are emotional and selfish and ours are not. If we decide not to lead with dogma, we cannot conceal or pretend to deny it.
The enemy is abandoning a long-defended position (“pro-choice”) and we need to know the real reasons why. Is it that they cannot hold it or that they no longer need it? Are they preparing a new assault or engaging in a holding operation? My own thoughts are not completely formed on the subject, but I think they are more desperate than we realize.
The abortion culture can only survive as a large-scale business, which requires both clients and practitioners. As we have systematically destroyed the sort of “scientific” evidence the pro-choice crowd touted since 1973 (in which the sonogram has proved invaluable), the number of doctors and nurses willing to participate has dwindled. It’s been more than a decade since I’ve heard anybody refer to an unborn child as a “blob of tissue”, as they did in the 1970s. Even the pro-choice crowd know there is a baby! Of course, then, in desperation they retreat to emotion. We need to adjust our tactics only be adding new ones, not by discarding those that worked.
And so, Tom, how do you employ, Inter Merifica, the means of social communication, that go by the term Social Media Marketing, to be all things to all people, reach them where they’re at, and Effectively communicate to them the priceless gifts of Truth without which we cannot be saved?
anon:
One example: some years ago EWTN had a beautiful music video of a woman debating an abortion, singing “This is My Body…” and laying out in song all her arguments in favor. Then an actor portraying Christ sings “This is My Body, which will be given up for you,” singing of love and sacrifice instead of selfishness. I was over fifty then and nearly moved to years. That is how you can lead with emotion, but back it up with truth.
Gentleman excellent dialogue here… enjoyable to read.
Wonderful consolation. You can see the Vitae Foundation’s broadcast commercials that cut abortion rates as much as 35% in markets they’re allowed entry into, by searching for ” vitae foundation ad portfolio”.
When are the pro-life people going to get smart and present a really good satire on this sort of manipulative, repugnant ad campaign. Even the name ‘planned parenthood’ is just begging to be ridiculed by a good team of writers. Rather than respond in a predictable, dreary way, pro-life should present a positive, ‘oh, there they go again’ campaign to expose how pp works and how they are utterly ridiculous and scurrilous and all those negative things and how they’re not even worthy foes… like how difficult is it to bully young, vulnerable women into having an abortion? How much skill does it take to murder a defenseless baby? Start showing these incredibly kafkaesque people for who and what they are, rather than presenting them as these super serious professionals of equal weight in evil to the goodness of the Church. These buffoons and bozos are NOT foes… they’re pathetic tools of the devil. The woman that leads this motley collection of bumbling and botched bimbos is just waiting to be mocked and exposed. It’s time to be serious by NOT letting them set the itinerary all the time. They’re just so ridiculous that I can’t believe we’re letting them get away with this sort of incredible chutpah. sheesh!
It costs money… Planned Parenthood has a lot of money and the pro-life organizations do not have the same power and ammo as they do.
Those with great ideas are being called to lead the charge. We don’t have to wait for the money to make anything happen. With God all things are possible.
Sandra you really think we don’t need money? hmm interesting.
Relativism appears to be OK to many Catholics due to many US Cardinals and Bishops refusing to publically excommunicate (ab homine) politicians and others who call themselves “Catholic” yet publically support abortion.
Abortion is the TORTURE and MURDER of innocent unborn babies.
By 8 weeks and 2 days – ” touching the embryo elicits squinting, jaw movement, grasping motions, and toe pointing “.
By 9 weeks and 3 days – ” The fetus can also grasp an object, move the head forward and back, open and close the jaw, move the tongue, sigh, and stretch.
Nerve receptors in the face, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet can sense light touch.
In response to a light touch on the sole of the foot, the fetus will bend the hip and knee and may curl the toes. ”
See “Endowment for Human Development” on the net.
Anne,
Re.: “Relativism appears to be OK to many Catholics due to many US Cardinals and Bishops refusing to publically excommunicate (ab homine) politicians and others who call themselves “Catholic” yet publically support abortion.” What about the “Knights” of Columbus leaders who refuse to allow Councils, Districts, and in some cases States to enforce their own Artcle 162-7 that clearly calls for expulsion of Knights who bring scandal on the Knights. Apparently they don’t consider being publicly pro-abortion, pro-sodomite as being scandalous, but they do consider bringing attention to this very scandal scandalous because they have expelled good Knights for bringing attention to this scandal.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Mr. Fisher,
It is my understanding that the Knights issue goes back to the head of the Knights, Carl Anderson, who took his orders from Cardinal Donald Weurl in the early 2000’s.
So RELATIVISM does get back to the Cardinals and Bishops, who do not do their jobs – publically excommunicating when necessary.
Bishop Lori is now the elected Supreme Chaplain so – Knights need to re-visit the issue of removing pro-abortion members from their ranks in accord with their documents.
They should do it now while they have a very good Bishop leader.
where do I find the truth to these statements about the Knights and Carl Anderson?
This is individualism, where each individual creates their own moral norms.
Not only are they re-writing the script on the language used to advance abortion, but the death and dying folks are taking our phrase protecting life from conception to natural death and using it to promote assisted suicide. The pitch now is; “we all accept natural child birth so why not natural death? We must counter with; the death you describe is not natural, it is planned and executed by a human being. We all also look askance at the woman who plans the birth of her baby around her own social agenda. So, too, should we look with suspicion at a legal and medical profession that assists in the planning of a death for the convenience of society and family.
Below is my paraphrase of the part of the ad cited above:
So the next time you talk about MURDER, don’t let the labels box you in.
Have a different conversation.
A conversation that doesn’t divide you, but is based on mutual respect and empathy.
In other words, let’s just agree to disagree, because we all know disagreeing about MURDER is disrespectful and heartless.
That’s good, Laurette, and in keeping with what I wrote …use irony, satire, mockery… it works so well for Stephen Colbert and his cohorts. The ads could be entertaining but with a real obvious cutting edge. I was especially vituperative but that is not what I think a good ad exposing ‘pullllannnnd parrrrenthooooood, need be. Humor works and it undermines the adversary, in this case, the devil, who hates to be mocked.
Scene 1: women in obvious distress, face pinched, running well-manicured hands through highlighted tresses that show an obvious Italian hand, long shadows fall across the room, her face in partial darkness.
Voice over: (well-modulated, mellifluous woman’s voice) “Facing an unpleasant decision? Worked years for this promotion? Don’t let a little thing like infanticide hold you back. You deserve this plum! You’ve slaved hours over a hot desk, slept with God knows who and finally, finally you’re about to break a major glass ceiling and you’ve discovered you have alien tissue growing in your tight as steel abs …and baby, you’ve slaved for those perfectly toned muscles. Life is too short to be tied down with a drippy, needy burden. Let us help you with the perfect and logical solution. Let’s work together for the greater good which is ALL about you!
(soaring music begins to thrum, back light woman’s face like a halo)
She slowly raises eyes and looks into the camera, showing resolve, hope and a sleepy, sexy look like she is feeling really hot)
Voiceover: “It’s going to be all right. Perfect Planting is here to help you because we CARE about you and will always do whatever it takes to keep women from suffering the pain and drudgery of pregnancy.”
(violins playing sweet melody)
fade out.
“Perfect Planting. We’re with you from the moment you get that big job to when you’re ready to face the end with dignity. Talk to one of our service reps about our easy, no-fuss final check-out plan when you’ve decided that that job just ‘isn’t enough’. We’ll make sure you have a quick, painless passing and a completely hygenic chemical dissolve body pack. No one will even know you’re gone. Find one of our convenient clinics near you.”
See, you are gifted, girl. Your on to something here. I will pray that your ideas make it to stage and TV.
money money… commercials etc all take money….
“Not in her shoes?” to rationalize abortion?
Why not put together a campaign “Not in his shoes” to vindicate men in those cultures where ‘honor killings’ are done, or where men are allowed to beat their wives, etc.?
If something is bad (e.g., killing a child in the womb, abusing your wife, etc.), it’s just plain bad, and we can’t legitimize it by saying: “you don’t know what s/he has been through.”
Touche!
John, thank you for the information. I agree with you — do a better job in communicating our position. I went to the Vitae Caring Foundation’s website and read the article “Abortion: A Failure to Communicate”. Their approach is obviously working.
How about this conversation: “If you would not kill a born child (1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 6 years) for this reason, then you should not kill an unborn child for this reason. I’m not in your shoes, but I used to be. Or I know someone who was and it all worked out fine.” I agree, lets get away from the labels and have a real conversation. 70% of women who abort believe that they are doing something immoral. 70% of women who abort do so because they feel like they have no choice. Abortion has dire consequences. A person is killed and another person has to go through life knowing they killed someone — someone who was dependent on them, someone they were charged with caring for. Yes, please lets get away from the labels and have a real conversation. Be your best self. Let the baby live.
The video states that most Americans want abortion to be safe and legal for a woman “if and when she needs it.” Needs it? At least they refer to the baby as a child. It is a rehash of the idea that it is a decision between a woman, her family, her faith and her doctor. Not for a politician to interfere with. No one is supposed to care about the baby, I guess? No one is supposed to speak up on behalf of the child if the mother decides to kill him or her?
To John Smith & Laurette Eisberry: BRILLIANT POSTS! Especially Laurette E’s post, so much pith in so few words. And you are both to be congratulated. Yes, there is obviously MUCH going on with P.P. and their ilk. I personally think that the pro-death by killing-the-innocents groups are now beginning to RUN SCARED. All of their obfuscatory tactics to confuse people about when human life begins are failing. Latest stats indicate that now upwards of 60% of the average American is now tending toward the belief that legalized abortion murder is WRONG and SHOULD STOP NOW. And I also think at least a modified program based on what John Smith has outlined could be successful. I also believe that this P.C. attitude of “don’t mix politics and religion” HAS to come to a screeching halt! Especially when it comes to PROTECTING THE UNBORN PREBORN. GOD BLESS ALL, MARKRITE
We forget that abortion is now a word that has been presented psychologically either acceptable or unacceptable or even just a placed word in the sub-conscience mind. Because it is easily acceptable, it is now a choice that one can either be embraced with excuses to move forward with or not.
Long ago, when abortion was not a common problem as it is today, it was not an option that may have come to mind. But because it is presented in today’s lifestyle choices, it is now an option for those who are not in those shoes. Adoption was mostly likely the better choice back then before abortion was legalized, I’m sure some self aborted and death was something that occurred not only for the unborn but also for the desperately mum.
If thoughts are placed in minds, then they can become choices for anyone. It is a learned behavior. Especially on such impressionable young minds in these current generations. The destruction of morals, family values, the acceptance of acts against natural law, the plot against the real definition of Marriage between one man and one woman, etc etc all contribute to more acceptance of abortion. The child is no longer seen as a human being. This culture has been De-sensitized.
Abortion is still very highly stigmatized.
Well it should be… an abortion is the murder of another human life. How can anyone not frown upon that? It’s choosing to stop abortion that is being stigmatized the more in today’s times.
by whom?
This ad is forgetting something very important. The unborn. When it comes to another human being, especially one that can not speak up for itself there is no such thing as “disagreeing about abortion is disrespectful and heartless.”.
“what is best for the Unborn child?” to live or not to live? How can that ever be the option? But it is. But wait, no way is that the question, the real focus is on the person born, what is best for the pregnant woman? Does she want to keep it, is she happy, did she plan it? Is this child wanted? All those questions have been implanted in the minds of selfish people. In deception in order to act out a lie that someone cares.
People don’t understand the spiritual aspect of such immoral acts. It can open up dark spiritual forces that no human can understand or deal with. For instance, a few weeks ago, i was dining out with my mum, she decided to take us out to a taco shop for dinner. She chose the place. As we were driving to it, I told my mum, I said mum did you know that next door to that taco shop, they use to have an abortion clinic, mum I don’t want to go there, I feel spooky about it. Well she didn’t take me serious and still made us park and walk in. I kid you not, but as I walked it, I really sensed something strong, the place had a bad odor, I felt chills go up my arms and I wanted to throw up. It was an awful thing to experience. We immediately walked out when my mum saw that I was not kidding.
“Adoption was probably the best choice back then”? Why isn’t it a good choice now? The baby gets two parents who wanted him/her and loves him/her and that’s certainly a better choice than being forced to leave a woman who doesn’t want/ love him/her. Isn’t it??
15 years ago, Paul Swope, “Abortion: A Failure to Communicate”, April, 1998, First Things: in depth consumer psychology studies showed that, while young women giving birth in crisis pregnancies regard it as psychic death for themselves as mothers, the prospect of giving up the child in adoption is regarded as a second death, illogically enough, but we’re not talking about rational thought, we’re talking about hormonally driven decision making in the absence of the graces of the Sacrament of Marriage.
I work with young women in unplanned pregnancies. The first thing I try to do is encourage them to give their baby to a loving couple to raise. I am always amazed and sadden that they would rather abort the baby than give them up to a loving couple. As abortion is not an option, the next step is to help them keep their babies. I get them on welfare for the short term, but work tirelessly to get them off welfare and into a trade. I use tax funded resources so they can go to school and get an education. I told A 17 year old that is due in March that she will be 27 years old in 10 years. She can be a confident, educated women working and caring for her 10 year old; or she can be a mother of 5 children by 5 different men that have left her and the children living on welfare. This takes a lot of work and effort to help these women, but the rewards are abundant. I truly wish that these youngsters could be educated on the virtues of purity and chastity so that this road is never taken. “but we’re not talking about rational thought, we’re talking about hormonally driven decision making in the absence of the graces of the Sacrament of Marriage.”
It starts in the public schools. If any ethics at all are mentioned, it’s unusual. When right and wrong are discussed, the kids are taught that the rightness or wrongness of an act is up to the person doing the act. They teach that if one thinks an act is right – that it usually or always is. In all too many families as well, the same ideas are conveyed to innocent children.