by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 28, 2005
New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Suddenly, and without warning,
Planned Parenthood president Gloria Feldt has announced she is resigning
as the head of the nation's largest abortion business. Feldt's departure
marks the second key resignation of a top pro-abortion leader, following
Kate Michelman's decision last year to leave NARAL.
Elizabeth Toledo, a Planned Parenthood spokeswoman, told the Associated Press, "Gloria made her decision to step down after a long 30-year career, and she has not made any announcements about her next step."
No
reason was given for Feldt's resignation and she has not announced what
she plans to do next. Feldt served a the president of the Planned Parenthood
Federation of America for eight years.
Karen Pearl, chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Nassau County in New York, will come aboard to serve as interim president while the PPFA board conducts a national search for a replacement.
"We honor Gloria Feldt's contributions to Planned Parenthood and to the global movement for reproductive justice,'' Planned Parenthood chairwoman La Don Love said in statement Thursday evening. "Her leadership has resulted in significant achievements for the organization and for women and families worldwide.''
Planned Parenthood's most recent annual report shows that 34 percent of its income comes from performing abortions, an increase from its last report. Meanwhile, private donations to the abortion business are down 17 percent as it relies on more government dollars than ever before.
Feldt came under fire last May when her group called pro-life advocates terrorists after initially criticizing them for using language comparing abortion to terrorism.
She also faced criticism during the height of the Scott Peterson trial when a reporter asked Feldt whether the Peterson crime involved one victim or two. She twice evaded the question.
Peterson was eventually charged with the double murders of his wife, Laci, and unborn child, Conner.
Under Feldt's leadership, the abortion business endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time, when it chose to back abortion advocate John Kerry, who lost in November. Afterwards, Feldt told Newsweek that Kerry "did not help the cause."
Feldt served as the director of Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas and Arizona before becoming the national president in 1996.
