The US Congress has started its investigation on the series of sting videos done by the pro-life group Center for Medical Progress (CMP) on Planned Parenthood, an organisation which provides reproductive health and maternal and child health services in America, including abortion services.
During the first hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, pro-abortion lawyer Priscilla Smith, who is also the director of Yale Law School's Program for the Study of Reproductive Justice and a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, stunned lawmakers when she said that the dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion method, wherein unborn babies are ripped limb-by-limb, is actually a "humane" procedure, Charisma News reported.
"I believe for a foetus, pre-viable foetus—yes, a D & E procedure is a very humane procedure, and it protects the woman and health and safety more than any other procedure," she said.
Her words stunned abortion survivor Gianna Jessen, who attended the hearing. "I'm speechless with Ms. Smith's reply," she said. Jessen's mother tried to have her aborted in a Planned Parenthood clinic back in 1977, but Jessen miraculously survived. "We will have to give an account as a nation before God," she added.
Even Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Virginia, who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, was appalled at Smith's desensitised statement. "I have to say, your view of humanity and mine are different," he remarked.
Goodlatte explained that the goal of their investigation is to protect taxpayers from having their money misused by the abortion service provider.
"Planned Parenthood...is granted huge amounts of federal funds, making it our business as members of Congress charged with controlling federal purse strings, to do what we can to ensure federal taxpayers are not contributing to the sorts of horrors reflected in the undercover videos," he said.
However, Democratic members of the House committee, defended Planned Parenthood, pointing out that the videos presented by the CMP were heavily edited, and branding the video makers "liars."
