Washington D.C., Jun 9, 2014 / 23:03 pm

A pro-life legal group has responded to claims that Scripture is silent on the topic of abortion by offering to donate free Bibles to every Planned Parenthood clinic across the nation.

"Planned Parenthood could place these Bibles in their waiting rooms and permit women the opportunity to explore for themselves what the Jewish and Christian Scriptures have to say about abortion," said Casey Mattox, senior counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom.

His comments came in response to a "Pastoral Letter to Patients" written by Planned Parenthood's clergy advocacy board.

"Many people wrongly assume all religious members disapprove of abortion," the letter said.

It stated that "abortion is not even mentioned in the Scriptures" and claimed that "clergy and people of faith from all denominations" support women who are in the process of making this "complex decision."

"No one knows the circumstance of your life as well as you know them; no one knows what's in your heart better than you do," it said, adding that God "is with you no matter what you decide."

Mattox responded in a June 6 letter to Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards.

"While I disagree with Planned Parenthood's exegesis of Scripture, I am not writing to debate that point," he said, explaining that although he differs with the abortion organization's moral and theological views, he agrees that "making these Bibles available to those women would certainly benefit your potential customers."

Mattox offered to donate Bibles to Planned Parenthood clinics across the country, in order to help "ensure that women are empowered to decide for themselves what the Bible teaches on this important question."

He said the Bibles would be unmarked to "allay any concern" of Planned Parenthood.

In his letter, Mattox underscored numerous Scripture passages on the topic of human life, including: "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13), "Truly children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalm 127:3), and "You shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13).

Alliance Defending Freedom is happy to "make these Bibles available, unedited and without emphasis of any kind, allowing those women visiting a Planned Parenthood facility to review them themselves," he emphasized.