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Ex-Planned Parenthood President Receives Highest Civilian Honor, Pro-Life Leaders Call It a Disgrace

Milton Quintanilla

President Joe Biden awarded former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, sparking outrage among pro-life advocates. Richards, who served as president of Planned Parenthood from 2006-2018, was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer last year. 

"With absolute courage, she fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are — a nation of freedom," Biden said in a post on X.

"Through her work to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women's reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote, she has carved an inspiring legacy," he added.

In a separate post on X, Richards said she was honored to represent abortions and thanked Biden and his wife, Jill, for their support in the pro-choice movement. 

"Such an honor representing abortion rights and the need for health care for all," she wrote. "@POTUS and @FLOTUS, thank you for all you've done to support women's health and rights. Here's to the work ahead!"

As reported by The Christian Post, Richards receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom was met with backlash from pro-life advocates.

"Cecile Richards presided over the abortions of 3.9 million babies as president of Planned Parenthood," Lila Rose wrote on X Wednesday. "She belongs in jail. Not in the White House receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom."

Kristan Hawkins, president of the pro-life advocacy group Students for Life of America, likewise expressed outrage.

"Cecile Richards was just given an award for killing babies in the name of 'freedom' by the Biden Administration," said Hawkins.

"According to Planned Parenthood's own annual reports, under Richards' leadership, 3.5 million children died unspeakably cruel deaths in barbaric acts of abortion," she noted. "Some of these children's bodies were then dissected and sold to the highest bidder. Planned Parenthood representatives haggled over prices for livers and brains."

Hawkins stated that "Planned Parenthood's abortions skyrocketed under Richards even as the organization's total number of clients plummeted year after year. Cecile Richards is anything but honorable. What a disgrace."

During Richards' tenure at Planned Parenthood, the abortion giant faced scrutiny after uncovering videos indicating that Planned Parenthood officials aided in prostitution and admitted to selling aborted fetal tissue. At the time, pro-life advocates argued that the abortion provider violated federal law, and efforts were made to defund Planned Parenthood, which rakes in millions of dollars in taxpayer funding every year. 

Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Democratic Party

Milton QuintanillaMilton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.