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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Planned Parenthood — Care, No Matter What By The Rev. Morgan Silbaugh MailTribune.com By The Rev. Morgan Silbaugh Posted Oct. 9, 2015 @ 12:01 am By The Rev. Morgan Silbaugh Posted Oct. 9, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The best wedding sermon I ever heard proclaimed that the gifts we pray God will give the couple are the very things God wants all of us to have: someone to be “a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy.” Similarly, without claiming divine wisdom for Planned Parenthood, I am convinced that this organization’s commitment to Care, No Matter What, makes available to everyone what every human being ought to have: high-quality medical care without condition, qualification or judgment, as well as first-rate educational resources related to human sexuality. The Rogue Valley has benefited for 50 years from the services of Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon. Planned Parenthood’s commitment to Oregonians has produced significant health gains and helped lead to the lowest teen pregnancy rate in nearly 40 years. Last year Planned Parenthood served over 7,000 people at our three Rogue Valley health centers (Ashland, Grants Pass and Medford), providing essential sexual and reproductive health care: birth control, cancer screenings, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment and well-woman exams. Without Planned Parenthood many people would have nowhere else to turn. Federal defunding of Planned Parenthood would prevent many low-income women from receiving health care with dire results not only for them but for the health of the overall community. I was having my hair cut in Medford on PPSO’s Pink Out Day, wearing a pink ribbon to show my support. The woman cutting my hair asked about the ribbon, and I explained — without any knowledge of her opinions. Quietly but firmly she said that sometime in the past Planned Parenthood had been there for her and she got the help she needed. I did not ask about the situation or whether she herself or a family member had turned to Planned Parenthood. It did not matter: “there for her,” as it is and has been there for thousands of others, giving Care, No Matter What. That matters. Many who oppose Planned Parenthood are troubled that women who choose to have abortions are cared for by Planned Parenthood. Words from the New England Journal of Medicine may be instructive here. “The contraception services that Planned Parenthood delivers may be the single greatest effort to prevent the unwanted pregnancies that result in abortions.” I once heard Sen. Ron Wyden say the same thing in fewer words: “Planned Parenthood is the best answer to abortion.” (The Journal also characterized the recent attacks on Planned Parenthood as “a campaign of misinformation.”) My own involvement with Planned Parenthood began over forty years ago in upstate New York. I sat on the floor with a group of middle school students while a Planned Parenthood educator led us in a sensitive, sensible and accurate voyage of discovery into the marvelous mysteries of human sexuality. Here in the Rogue Valley such excellence continues. REV(OLUTION) is a powerful youth leadership program that engages young people in educating their communities about sexual health issues and policies that are relevant to their lives. One participant wrote “I’d love to get my school involved. I know first hand that our sex ed is subpar. I want all schools to join with Planned Parenthood to teach the next generation to be healthy.” Teen Outreach Program (TOP) involves youth in service learning projects, offers them connections with skilled caring adults, and helps them prepare for successful adulthood. Planned Parenthood fills a critically important role in our community, providing birth control and sexual protection, detecting disease early, treating the sick and promoting health. It has provided tons of “cure” and many, many ounces of prevention. Right here in the Rogue Valley Planned Parenthood has contributed wonderfully toward making this “the healthiest generation yet.” The Rev. Morgan Silbaugh of Ashland is a retired Episcopal priest and a Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon board member. By The Rev. Morgan Silbaugh MailTribune.com By The Rev. Morgan Silbaugh Posted Oct. 9, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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