Wisconsin YMCA Criticized for Hosting Planned Parenthood Events
by Paul Nowak
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
February 26, 2004
Hudson, WI (LifeNews.com) — Pro-life advocates in Wisconsin are outraged that the local YMCA is renting space to Planned Parenthood for conferences aimed at youth and their parents.
Planned Parenthood of Minnesota/South Dakota is offering Mother & Daughter and Father & Son retreats at the YMCA Camp St. Croix in Hudson during weekends this coming spring and fall. The event does not appear to be advertised by the local YMCA, but the events are listed at the Planned Parenthood affiliate’s website.
Darla Meyers, who is organizing local awareness and protest of the arrangement, said she believes this is the first cooperation of the YMCA with the nation’s largest abortion business and its affiliates.
Meyers cautions that the Wisconsin situation might set precedent for other YMCA facilities nationwide.
"This is outrageous," said Meyers. "Planned Parenthood is the number one abortionist in the United States and routinely fights against any kind of parental notification laws. For this
group to claim that it promotes parent-child communications is preposterous."
YMCA officials at Camp St. Croix did not return phone calls from LifeNews.com.
Meyers told LifeNews.com that Dan Newhouse, Wisconsin liaison at the National YMCA headquarters, told her that this is decision of the local office which sets it s own policies and is a separate entity from the national YMCA, although they still bear the name and operate under the auspices of the YMCA organization, and are listed as a YMCA location on the national organization’s web site.
"We call on the YMCA officials and the officials at Camp St. Croix to immediately cancel its arrangements with Planned Parenthood," concluded Meyers. "Since the national mission of the YMCA is ‘To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all,’ the local YMCA has an obligation to not allow Planned Parenthood to use its facilities."
In addition, Meyers said individuals are encouraged to contact the Hudson YMCA Partners (a confidential listing of donors and members) and ask them not only to cease donating to the YMCA, but to demand a refund if they do not sever their relationship with Planned Parenthood.
Radio interviews and appearances by pro-life advocates are already being scheduled, and a tentative protest is scheduled for next week, according to Meyers.
Related Sites:
YMCA National Headquarters – https://www.ymca.net
YMCA Camp St. Croix Information Page – https://www.ymca.net/index.jsp?assn=3209
