You can almost imagine the sales pitch: “Having trouble finding the perfect gift for that special someone?  What do you get for the gal who has everything? — A pre-paid abortion, of course!” 

Maybe an ad with a couple’s discussion would work better:

Man: “Honey, you can buy one of these for your friend, what’s-her-face.  You’re always saying how tough she is to shop for.”

Woman: “That sounds perfect.  That way she can stock up on that Plan B she’s always raving about.”

As much as it sounds like a bad Saturday Night Live skit, it’s not.  Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) is offering gift certificates that can be used for any of their health “services.”  The state network has 35 clinics where the gift certificates are available.  (Planned Parenthood of Illinois is now also offering the vouchers).

Dr. Judy Monroe, Indiana health commissioner gushed to Fox News that the vouchers are “really a meaningful gift.”  In a weird twist of logic, Betty Cockrum, president and CEO of PPIN believes the gift certificates to potentially provide lifesaving care.  Cockrum repeated the tired pro-abortion line, “Birth control is the best way to avoid unintended pregnancy.  Avoiding unintended pregnancy is the best way to reduce abortion."

The problem with that thinking is Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers and supporters consider “Plan B” a contraceptive and deny its abortive purpose and outcome.

According to the Catholic News Agency, Pro-Life Action League (PLAL) has already responded with its own campaign to counter the gift certificate promotion.  PLAL is requesting donations be made to Option Line, the 24/7 hotline at 1-800-395-HELP.  The hotline is a joint venture between Heartbeat International and Care Net and connects callers to local pregnancy resource centers.

Adding insult to injury, literally, PPIN officials are touting the vouchers as enabling people to give the “gift of life” to their loved ones, Fox News reports.

Dr. Janice Crouse, Director and Senior Fellow of Concerned Women for America’s Beverly LaHaye Institute, lamented the use of gift certificates for such a purpose, stating, “It is particularly sad and repugnant to see such a crass use of Christmas — certificates for death to celebrate the coming of our Savior, who is Light and Life, into the world.”

“Planned Parenthood has a history of inappropriate public relations and a total insensitivity to the sensibilities of the American people.  I think that results from years of disregarding humanity and disrespecting human life.  When you are callous toward the most vulnerable among us, how can you be anything other than totally reprobate about the sacredness of Christmas?” Crouse added.