Cecile Richards and the Medal of Freedom
Honoring a Legacy of Death
If you want to understand what the Biden administration values most, look no further than the most recent Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. This week, President Joe Biden will pin our nation's highest civilian honor on Cecile Richards. She’s the former president of Planned Parenthood and an unapologetic advocate for abortion. According to Biden, Richards will be remembered as a champion of “women’s reproductive rights and equality.” But the reality is darker—far darker. During her 12-year tenure, the organization she led was responsible for ending the lives of an estimated (very conservatively) 2.5 million unborn children. Let that sink in.
Richards isn’t just an administrator in the abortion debate. She’s a figurehead, a symbol of a movement that celebrates "choice" without confronting its cost. In a 2014 interview, she shared a deeply revealing comment about her own abortion, saying, “It was the right decision for me and my husband, and it wasn’t a difficult decision.” Not a difficult decision? It’s as though the moral weight of ending a life has been sanitized to the point of triviality—a harsh reality indeed.
But Richards’ legacy isn’t just about abortion statistics. Her leadership at Planned Parenthood was marred by scandal and controversy that most people would rather ignore. The organization has been repeatedly accused of covering up child sexual abuse,1 committing Medicaid fraud2, and even profiting from the sale of fetal body parts.3 These aren’t conspiracy theories; they’re documented scandals, with undercover videos exposing the callous and disturbing practices that occurred under her watch. One particularly chilling clip shows Planned Parenthood representatives laughing and joking about the sale of aborted babies' organs—a moment that feels more dystopian than real. (You can watch it, if you dare, here).
The irony here is almost unbearable. A medal meant to celebrate freedom is being awarded to someone whose life’s work has been defined by a denial of it. And while the world cheers, I can’t help but feel a profound sadness. For Richards. For our country. For the more than 2.5 million tiny humans who never had a chance.
There’s an added layer of tragedy to this story. Cecile Richards has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and often terminal form of brain cancer. I don’t bring this up to gloat or wish her harm—far from it. Life and death are realities that we all must face. And in Richards’ case, I can only hope that this diagnosis gives her an opportunity to reflect on her life, her legacy, and the millions of lives taken during her time at Planned Parenthood.
Because one day soon, like all of us, Cecile Richards will stand before the ultimate Judge. And when she does, no political accolade or presidential medal will matter. What will matter is whether she found forgiveness in Christ and turned to Him in repentance. That hope isn’t just for her; it’s for all of us, no matter how dark our past may be.
https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1687639219043450880
https://x.com/LilaGraceRose/status/1740819889856623074