Planned Parenthood struggling financially, Harvard study finds

Washington D.C., Dec 4, 2009 / 23:46 pm

Last week, InsiderCatholic.com issued a story referring to a Harvard Business School case study which outlined some of Planned Parenthood's recent financial difficulties. According to Mauricio Roman's article, Planned Parenthood has recently consolidated its affiliates, pushed for more cost effective procedures such as chemical abortions versus in-clinic abortions, and has tried to increase its sale of emergency contraceptive kits.

The Harvard case study, released in April of 2009, claims that "tough economic times, a hostile political environment" and inability to raise philanthropic dollars are among the reasons for Planned Parenthood's financial difficulties, despite the fact that the non-profit organization claimed $85 million in profits in 2008.

"Planned Parenthood may call itself a non-profit but the numbers don't lie: abortion is a big business," said Colin Mason, Director of Media Production for the Population Research Institute to CNA.

"Planned Parenthood talks the talk on 'wanting to reduce abortions' but that is actually the last thing they want. Why would they? Abortions are their bread and butter. When rates drop, Planned Parenthood feels the heat, as we're seeing now."

When asked if their financial difficulties are among the reasons that Planned Parenthood is working so hard to ensure federally-funded abortions in the new health care reform, Mason told CNA that "it is likely that this particularly strong push is a result of their slashed revenues."

"As abortion becomes more and more unpopular, Planned Parenthood suffers. Federal funding ensures a reliable budget."

Mason continued to tell CNA that "Planned Parenthood is beginning to have an odor of disreputability, and is losing funding at the state and local level as a result. They are shrouded in scandals that seem to pop up at every turn, from their proven practice of covering up statutory rape, to their willingness to accept racist donations."

"It is telling," said Mason, "that major companies like Target, who used to give to Planned Parenthood, have ceased. Planned Parenthood is beginning to develop a 'creep factor,' which takes its toll on revenue and patronage."

Ultimately, Mason believes that "Americans are becoming more and more uncomfortable with the entire idea of abortion and that is one of the biggest reasons why America’s biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, is starting to see a massive fall-off."

"It is our hope," Mason told CNA, "that, just as the ovens of Auschwitz stand empty now as a public memorial to millions of slain Jews, so someday Planned Parenthood’s clinics will stand empty to remind us of the countless babies sacrificed in the name of 'choice'."