North Cook News

Abortion is not "a humanitarian good," a 54th District state representative said shortly after former Planned Parenthood Federation of American President Cecile Richards received a prestigious civil and human rights award.

"I don't believe it is a humanitarian good, but it’s going to be a hard issue for some because of personal involvement in the decision to abort," Rep. Thomas Morrison (R-Palatine) told North Cook News. "Many, many women and men, however, have come to the realization that they regret their decision. A compassionate society will try to recognize, protect, and support all lives from conception to natural death. That should be our aim."

Morrison also referred to inconsistency among proponents of safe and legal abortion. 

Illinois state House Rep. Thomas Morrison (R-Palatine)

"Many individuals and groups who champion abortion rights are inconsistent, for sure," he said.

"On the one hand, most will celebrate the lives and achievements of those who overcome developmental disabilities. But most also accept the idea that these same individuals could be or should be aborted based solely on that same disability. Furthermore, the United Nations Population Fund has discovered that a significant number of individuals and couples still choose to abort based solely on the unborn child's biological sex. They estimated there are over 100 million 'missing women' as a direct result of sex-selected abortions. This is indefensible, but Cecile Richards and her ilk remain quiet."

Richards received the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights during a gala in Washington, D.C., on May 16, according to a conference announcement. Other recipients were #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program recipients, also known as "Dreamers."

"These honorees marshal the courage, hope, and integrity to make our values real," the announcement said. "Through their strength and determination, they advocate for a vision of what America should and can be. We are proud to add their names to the role of civil and human rights activists who continue to make this country as good as its ideals.

Morrison, who has represented the 54th House District since he was first elected to the seat in 2010, was recognized recently for his achievements. Morrison received the American Conservative Union Foundation's Award for Conservative Achievement for his 2017 voting record, according to a news release issued by Morrison's office this week.

In March 2016, Morrison introduced a bill into the House that would have required students in Illinois public school students to use bathrooms that correspond with their birth sex.

The 54th House District is entirely within Cook County and includes Arlington Heights and Rolling Meadows.

Morrison is being challenged in the November general election by Democrat health care researcher Maggie Trevor of Rolling Meadows. Both Morrison and Trevor were unopposed for the place on the ballot during the primaries in March.

This spring, Richards left her post as president of Planned Parenthood after about 12 years.

Planned Parenthood claimed in its 2016-17 annual report, the last issued before Richard's departure, that only 3 percent of the "affiliate medical services" it provided that year were for abortion services with 321,384 abortions performed, according to the annual report.

"Every day, more than 8,000 people walk through those doors to get birth control, cancer screenings, STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing and treatment, and safe and legal abortion," the annual report said. "They don’t come to us to make a political statement. They come to get compassionate, expert care."

The more than 320,000 abortions in that report are only a small portion of Planned Parenthood abortions during Richard's presidency, Morrison said. 

"The 3.8 million abortions that Planned Parenthood performed under Richards were unique and distinct human lives who could not defend or speak for themselves," he said.

"There are countless other adults and children who will be permanently scarred by the real and tragic eradication of these little lives. Society as a whole is worse off. Planned Parenthood’s activities are patently anti-human. Anyone who sees an ultrasound picture side by side with a photo of a child that has been aborted will see why Richards' award is a farce."