By CatholicVote | Created at 2025-01-20 19:56:03 | Updated at 2025-01-21 00:47:20
4 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // Former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards died Jan. 20 after battling an aggressive form of brain cancer. She was 67.
Pro-life leaders, including Lila Rose and Jeanne Mancini, expressed prayers that God would have mercy on her soul.
BREAKING:
Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood, has died at age 67.
During her 12 years overseeing Planned Parenthood, she presided over the abortion of nearly 4 million babies.
May the Lord, in His perfect justice and infinite mercy, rest her soul.…
I just heard news of Cecile Richard's death at 67, which makes me sad. I 100% disagreed with her on abortion, and how to really support moms and babies. But I pray that God has mercy on her. I pray for her family and friends grieving her loss. May she RIP.
— Jeanne F. Mancini (@jeannemfl) January 20, 2025Troy Newman, who serves as the president of Operation Rescue and lost an $18 million lawsuit to Richards and Planned Parenthood, also called for forgiveness.
“My faith calls me to extend grace even to those who persecuted me,” he wrote. “I pray she came to know Jesus Christ as her Savior and that her soul finds rest. ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,’ (Matthew 5:44).”
He continued, “While we mourn her passing, we must not lose sight of the continued injustice against the unborn children. The exploitation and destruction of innocent human life are evils that must end. Let this serve as a renewed call to action to defend the dignity of every life and to fight for a world where such atrocities are no longer tolerated.”
LifeNews reports that Richards led Planned Parenthood from 2006-2018. During that time, Planned Parenthood killed approximately four million babies in abortions.
The outlet also states that Richards increased the number of abortions by approximately 70,000 per year, as Planned Parenthood’s non-abortion services declined.
Under Richards’ leadership, Planned Parenthood began distributing cross-sex hormones to minors and adults. Between 2006 and 2018, the governmental funding for Planned Parenthood also surged by 67%, from $336.7 million to $563.8 million.
LifeNews added, “Critics also highlighted Richards’ role in controversies involving Planned Parenthood, including allegations of Medicaid fraud, child abuse cover-ups, and the sale of fetal tissue.”
The Center for Medical Progress accused Planned Parenthood of selling fetal organs, and of Dr. Deborah Nucatola casually discussing extracting organs. Richards later apologized for Nucatol’s “tone.”
In November 2024, former President Joe Biden awarded Richards the Medal of Freedom, as CatholicVote previously reported.
