President Barack Obama Picks Pro-Abortion NYC Health Head Frieden for CDC
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 15, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Add another abortion advocate to list of the people President Barack Obama has chosen for key health positions. Following pro-abortion ex-Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius becoming his health secretary, Obama named New York City’s health commissioner Thomas Frieden as head of the CDC.
Frieden, who was controversial during his time in New York, which has long has the highest abortion rate of any major city, was named director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New York City has paid millions of dollars over the years for abortions for poor residents and required medical students there to lean how to do abortions.
Frieden, who will take over the CDC in June, feuded with pro-life advocates by distributing millions of free condoms in 2007.
New York City’s bishops issued a scathing denunciation at the time.
“The decision of the city of New York to distribute [26] million free condoms to the public — and minors as well, according to news reports — is tragic and misguided,” Cardinal Edward Egan of New York and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said at the time.
“Our political leaders fail to protect the moral tone of our community when they encourage inappropriate sexual activity by blanketing our neighborhoods with condoms," they added.
Frieden admitted that abstinence education could help lower high teen pregnancy rates in New York, but still promoted contraception.
"Postponing sex has many benefits for teens," Frieden said. "It’s the only sure way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Teenagers who choose to have sex should know that condoms and long-acting contraceptives are both important."
During Frieden’s tenure, the New York City health department included abortion businesses in a listing of health care centers geared for women that it promoted in brochures.
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