"For an organization that claims to be about women's health, this Planned Parenthood prayer guide seems to focus exclusively on abortion." -- Mark Tooley, IRD President

Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2012 /Standard Newswire/ -- A clergy committee of Planned Parenthood is calling for "40 days of prayer and contemplation" for abortion in a program mirroring the "40 Days for Life" campaign that opposes the practice. The Humboldt County Clergy for Choice, a committee of Six Rivers Planned Parenthood in Northern California, launched the gatherings to support "reproductive justice" March 18 through April 27.

Among the prayer points are "for the families we've chosen," celebration and thankfulness of abortion, abortion doctors, and for "a cloud of gentleness to surround every abortion facility."

The Planned Parenthood "Clergy for Choice" group includes United Methodist, Episcopal, Reform Jewish and Unitarian Universalist clergy. The group plans an evening concluding the event at a local United Methodist church.

IRD President Mark Tooley commented:

"For an organization that claims to be about women's health, this Planned Parenthood prayer guide seems to focus exclusively on abortion.

"How sad that clergy who are supposed to protect innocent life instead try to sanctify death.

"Some day churches will repent for their complicity in the culture of death. Until then, all persons of good will should robustly defend all innocents who cannot defend themselves."