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Abortion grand jury put on hold
BY: Jack "Miles" Ventimiglia, Editor
A ruling saying petitioners could seat a grand jury to investigate Planned Parenthood did not quiet anti-abortion and abortion rights activists Tuesday.
Johnson County Judge Kevin Moriarty's ruling responded to Planned Parenthood's petition challenge. Petitioners want a further investigation of the clinic, 4401 W. 109th St., Overland Park. Planned Parenthood already faces felony charges brought by anti-abortion District Attorney Phill Kline.
"We believe that the grand jury process is being abused for political purposes and to harass Planned Parenthood. We have been thoroughly investigated on all the charges in the petition and there's no merit to them," Planned Parenthood President Peter Brownlie said Wednesday.
Kline defended the grand jury petitions.
"Planned Parenthood is asking this court to invalidate a lawful petition on the basis that it doesn't like the political positions of those who may have signed the petition," Kline told the court Tuesday.
Moriarty postponed seating the grand jury by a week to let Planned Parenthood lawyers – characterized by Kline's office as "attorneys for the abortion industry" – to file a motion with the Kansas Supreme Court.
Christian Newswire quotes Operation Rescue President Troy Newman as accusing Moriarty of siding with Planned Parenthood to allow the delay. Newman based the claim on Moriarty being appointed by abortion rights advocate Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
"Moriarty knew he could not directly violate the law that mandates convening of this grand jury so he chose to circumvent it by giving Planned Parenthood time to file with the Kansas Supreme Court where further delays can be expected. It has been said that justice delayed is justice denied. We just saw an example of that today," Newman said.
The Supreme Court has a similar case under review in Wichita. Brownlie said Planned Parenthood wants the grand jury issue here placed on hold until the high court decides the Wichita case.
"It's an enormous distraction from our primary priority of providing good family planning services and sex education so that we can reduce the number of abortions in Kansas," Brownlie said. "It's a real irony that those supposedly fighting against abortion in Kansas are making it difficult for us who are really doing something about it."
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Johnson County Judge Kevin Moriarty's ruling responded to Planned Parenthood's petition challenge. Petitioners want a further investigation of the clinic, 4401 W. 109th St., Overland Park. Planned Parenthood already faces felony charges brought by anti-abortion District Attorney Phill Kline.
"We believe that the grand jury process is being abused for political purposes and to harass Planned Parenthood. We have been thoroughly investigated on all the charges in the petition and there's no merit to them," Planned Parenthood President Peter Brownlie said Wednesday.
Kline defended the grand jury petitions.
"Planned Parenthood is asking this court to invalidate a lawful petition on the basis that it doesn't like the political positions of those who may have signed the petition," Kline told the court Tuesday.
Moriarty postponed seating the grand jury by a week to let Planned Parenthood lawyers – characterized by Kline's office as "attorneys for the abortion industry" – to file a motion with the Kansas Supreme Court.
Christian Newswire quotes Operation Rescue President Troy Newman as accusing Moriarty of siding with Planned Parenthood to allow the delay. Newman based the claim on Moriarty being appointed by abortion rights advocate Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
"Moriarty knew he could not directly violate the law that mandates convening of this grand jury so he chose to circumvent it by giving Planned Parenthood time to file with the Kansas Supreme Court where further delays can be expected. It has been said that justice delayed is justice denied. We just saw an example of that today," Newman said.
The Supreme Court has a similar case under review in Wichita. Brownlie said Planned Parenthood wants the grand jury issue here placed on hold until the high court decides the Wichita case.
"It's an enormous distraction from our primary priority of providing good family planning services and sex education so that we can reduce the number of abortions in Kansas," Brownlie said. "It's a real irony that those supposedly fighting against abortion in Kansas are making it difficult for us who are really doing something about it."
Comments on "Abortion grand jury put on hold"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.BCPL wrote on Nov 30, 2007 9:59 AM:
" Planned Parenthood claims they are working to reduce abortions, but they continue to commit them for virtually any reason.
They are the cause of the "need" for abortion because of their introducing elementary and middle school "children" into their so called safe sex education programs. They try always to indoctrinate children into sexual activity without the knowledge or approval of the childrens parents.
If they truly want to reduce abortio, they should stop arousing childrens's sexuality at early ages.
"
Ray Parker wrote on Nov 29, 2007 10:10 PM:
" Did someone at the Planned Parenthood abortion mill write this article for you, Mr. Ventimiglia? "
Dr. Rev. Gene Sipprell wrote on Nov 29, 2007 9:30 PM:
" How much information can we receive from the deliberations of the grand Jury if it meets? "
Joanne wrote on Nov 29, 2007 4:06 PM:
" Planned Parenthood reducing the number of abortions in Kansas? I doubt it! Nationwide, according to their annual reports, the number of abortions that Planned Parenthood provided has steadily increased. The number of adoption and prenatal services or referrals they provided has decreased. Furthermore, abortion makes up one-third of their income; even though, they say it is a small percentage of their business. Planned Parenthood knows that contraceptives fail especially when used by teenagers. They know that abortion is used for contraceptive failure and as a method of birth control. They also condone teenage sexual activity which leads to unplanned and unwed pregnancies. Their founder, Margaret Sanger was a eugenicist and "free love" advocate - two seriously flawed and morally bankrupt philosophies. Most pro-lifers have nothing against sex education and sound family planning services especially ones that promote abstinence first and monogamy within marriage. Believe me Planned Parenthood does not want to get out of the abortion business. They fight for unrestricted access to abortion by anyone of any age at any time during pregnancy. "