Anti-Abortion Groups Shut Down Habitat for Humanity Project

[marmar]

from AlterNet's PEEK:



Anti-Abortion Groups Shut Down Habitat for Humanity Project

Posted by Jill Filipovic, Feministe at 1:00 PM on June 6, 2008.

Once again, abortion opponents reveal their disregard for life after birth.



I know we’ve said it over and over: “Pro-lifers” don’t seem to care much for “life” once people actually enter the world. They oppose contraception access, which could prevent millions of abortions; their political allies take no steps to assist low-income women; they oppose universal health-care; and they generally stand against any social program that would actually help women and children. In fact, 100% of the worst legislators for children are “pro-life.”

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise when anti-choicers oppose programs that help born people secure shelter. And yet, even I was stunned at this:

An anti-abortion group has broken up a deal between Planned Parenthood and Habitat for Humanity by blasting out 10,000 e-mails to Habitat supporters.

Planned Parenthood is building a 23,000-square-foot regional headquarters on Central Avenue, and planned to sell Habitat the land next door for a token $10 to build three below-market-cost houses. The deal benefited Planned Parenthood because the city required the clinic to put up buildings as a buffer between its parking lot and Cohen Way.

“We could have put up any building we wanted,” said Barbara Zdravecky, president of Planned Parenthood. “We wanted to donate the land so Habitat could build more attainable housing.”

So Planned Parenthood sold a large piece of land to Habitat for Humanity for $10 — PP needed buildings to go up in the space, and they figured that they would use the requirement for good. But “pro-life” groups were so outraged that they shut down the project — a project that had nothing to do with abortion, and only meant that there would be more attainable multi-family housing in Sarasota. According to the American Life League, the problem is any “association” with Planned Parenthood. Even when Planned Parenthood is essentially giving them a gift. Even when the “association” has nothing to do with any of Planned Parenthood’s activities, and simply amounts to more housing for low-income families.

Take action to counter anti-choicers’ stranglehold on the “life” issue: Go here to tell national Habitat for Humanity that they shouldn’t let themselves be bullied by anti-choice, anti-life asshats. And go here to donate to Habitat — and let them know that pro-choicers are their base.

Thanks to Thomas for the link.


http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/87304/

[cynatnite]

1. No surprise since Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. From everything I've seen and heard, HfH is a *real* Christian organization

And not one of those disgustingly fake ones like American Life League or Project Rescue.

[cynatnite]

4. It's a wonderful organization, but it does have a Christian ministry department...

Their assocation with Planned Parenthood was bound to offend some Christians. This should not surprise anyone.

http://www.habitat.org/how/christian.aspx

[Hobarticus]

5. Really should have read the article first...

Tony Souza, director of Habitat for Humanity Sarasota, said it was the pressure from donors -- and not a philosophical stance -- that caused Habitat to back out of the project.

"It was a lot of pressure on Habitat International," Souza said. "When donors start pulling out, money talks."

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080605/NEWS/806050305&SearchID=73319851775824

[Ian David]

3. So now, Planned Parenthood will be FORCED to sell the land for MILLIONS of dollars to a DEVELOPER.

And they can use that money to kill countless BILLIONS of the tiny babies that live in our sperm.

They can call it The Homonucleus Condo Complex on Aborted Fetus Drive.

[DCKit]

6. Ian, you are one sick, twisted bitch. Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!

Series, though, they already sold it to Habitat, so now Habitat can sell it (for millions) and provide shelter for several dozen actual, living families and children. The lifers aren't going to like that.

Not to mention all the free publicity and sympathy Habitat just got from the wingers.

Keep it up asshats! Pretty soon Habitat for Humanity will be self-funding.