The former president of the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, disappointing pro-life advocates. President Joe Biden announced that he had awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Cecile Richards, who served as president of Planned Parenthood from 2006-2018. Richards was diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer last year.

 Biden shared a picture of himself and first lady Jill Biden at the White House with Richards and her husband, accompanied by a caption reading: “With absolute courage, she fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are — a nation of freedom. Through her work to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women’s reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote, she has carved an inspiring legacy,” he added.

Richards reacted to her recognition in an X post. “Such an honor representing abortion rights and the need for health care for all,” she wrote. “POTUS and FLOTUS, thank you for all you’ve done to support women’s health and rights. Here’s to the work ahead!”

 The White House pool report stated: “With absolute courage and conviction, Cecile Richards fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are — a Nation of freedom. Carrying her parents’ torch for justice, she’s led some of our Nation’s most important civil rights causes — to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women’s reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote. A leader of utmost character, she has carved an inspiring legacy that endures in her incredible family, the countless lives she has made better, and a Nation seeking the light of equality, justice, and freedom.”

 Lila Rose, founder of the pro-life advocacy group Live Action, commented “Cecile Richards presided over the abortions of 3.9 million babies as president of Planned Parenthood. She belongs in jail. Not in the White House receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.” Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, expressed disgust. “Cecile Richards was just given an award for killing babies in the name of ‘freedom’,” Hawkins asserted. “Cecile Richards is anything but honorable.”

 Throughout Richards’ tenure at Planned Parenthood, the organization was subject to scrutiny over undercover videos implying officials at the abortion provider aided in prostitution and admitted to selling aborted fetal tissue, with pro-lifers alleging the abortion provider violated federal law. The undercover videos led to efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, which receives millions of dollars in taxpayer funding every year.

 Although Richards stepped down from her role as Planned Parenthood head in 2018, she continues to engage in abortion advocacy. She co-founded a website titled “Abortion in America,” which seeks to tell the “stories” of the “thousands of people around the country [who] have been impacted by abortion bans” enacted at the state level after the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion in its 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. Following the Dobbs ruling, several states have implemented abortion restrictions.

 Biblical Connections: In the Old Testament, nations worshiped pagan gods through child sacrifice. Any nation that not only allows this type of action but endorses it as worthy of respect is not a nation that follows God.

 PRAY: Pray the continued push for abortion will be stopped and life will be preserved and loved once more.