NY State Planned Parenthood Chapter Leaving Nationwide Organization
A New York state chapter of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America will be cutting ties with the nationwide organization over a soon-to-be implemented abortion requirement.
Planned Parenthood of South Central New York announced Wednesday evening that it would become an independent organization due to its opposition to a requirement by the central organization to have all affiliates perform abortions by 2013.
The South Central New York chapter, which has offices in Binghamton, Norwich, Oneonta, Sidney and Walton, will maintain the same staff and provide the same services as before. They will change their name to "Family Planning of South Central New York."
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South Central New York CEO Deb Marcus explained to local media that they are leaving because they feel they cannot compete with other abortion providers.
"We are totally committed to ensuring the full range of women's reproductive choice, including making sure there is accessible, affordable abortion," said Marcus to The Daily Star of Oneonta.
"We are a small organization. We want to use our limited resources to continue to focus on prevention. …We don't want to take our limited resources and duplicate services that already exist."
In 2010, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America approved a measure that required all affiliates to have at least one office that performs abortions.
In a statement provided to The Christian Post by PPFA Vice President for Communications Eric Ferrero, he explained it was being done to respond to patient demands for better access.
"In recent years men, women, and teens in communities across New York and nationwide have increasingly relied on Planned Parenthood for a wide range of core services," said Ferrero.
"In response to these patient needs, Planned Parenthood affiliate leaders decided to offer a consistent set of services at all health centers so that patients can receive essential care wherever they live."
According to The Daily Star, in September SCNY chapter CEO Marcus attempted to get a waiver from the new requirement, but the request was rejected. The Susan B. Antony List, a pro-life organization, released a statement condemning Planned Parenthood's requirement for all offices to perform abortions.
"Planned Parenthood's mandate requiring that all affiliates provide abortions beginning in 2013 is the ultimate evidence that Planned Parenthood's chief concern is making money off abortion – not the health of vulnerable women and girls," said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.
"This mandate will no doubt result in an increase in revenue for Planned Parenthood as well as an increase in the more than 329,000 lives the abortion chain ends in one year. Does that sound like women's health?"
Family Planning of South Central New York is not the first Planned Parenthood affiliate to cut ties with the national organization over its growing effort to expand abortion services.
In December 2010, a Texas Planned Parenthood affiliate based in Corpus Christi left the nationwide organization for similar reasons. Once disaffiliated, the organization renamed itself Family Planning of the Coastal Bend.
