In recent opinion columns, a Planned Parenthood board member has claimed that abortion is ‘a sacred gift,’ and that nonbelievers have ‘reasons to celebrate’ since Christianity is ‘in decline.’

Valerie Tarico is a member of Planned Parenthood’s Board of Advocates, which—according to the board’s website—is a 400-member body of individuals “united by their personal integrity and commitment to the Planned Parenthood mission.” Among other responsibilities, Board of Advocates members “writ[e] articles, blog posts, or statements in support of Planned Parenthood.”

Tarico, whose writing has appeared in outlets such as Salon, AlterNet, and the Huffington Post, routinely writes about her opposition to Christian beliefs and values. In an opinion piece last June, she wrote, “it’s tempting to think that Christian conservatives have reached some new pinnacle of hating women and sexuality.”

In a Huffington Post article last January, Tarico claimed that abortion is “a sacred gift.” She also encouraged people to “honor women who decide to terminate pregnancies” and “honor doctors who provide abortion services,” since they are “doing God’s work.”

“An abortion when needed is a blessing,” Tarico posited. “It is a gift, a grace, a mercy, a cause for gratitude, a new lease on life. Being able to choose when and whether to bring a child into the world enables us and our children to flourish.”

In one of Tarico’s most recent articles, initially published on AlterNet in late December, she lists ten reasons why she believes that Christianity is “in decline.”

“Things are looking bright for those who would like to see humanity more grounded in science and reason,” Tarico asserts.

The facts Tarico cites to support her claim vary significantly, but they include the secularization of millenials, the increasing outspokenness of skeptics, and the society’s departure from Biblical values.

“Today’s young women and men are making the Bible writers look as if they were members of a tribal, Iron Age culture in which women were property like livestock and children—to be traded, sold and won in battle,” Tarico alleges.

Tarico also claims that Christian denominations are declining in influence due to their “cruelty, bigotry and ignorance.”

In response to Tarico’s assertions, Matt Barber, a popular author and freelance columnist, wrote in a column for WND that such claims from nonbelievers are nothing new.

“When the atheist gives voice to his or her God-denial,” Barber writes, “it provides those in Truth a small glimpse into the same dark spirit—old as Adam—that prompted the psalmist to observe: ‘The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good’ (Psalm 14:1).”

Barber points out that true freedom cannot be found in human reasoning or atheism, but only in Jesus Christ—as explained in Galatians 5:1.

“Without Christ, there is no freedom,” Barber states. “There is only death.”

“When God-deniers like Ms. Tarico dig in their heels,” he continues, “a pitiable paradox occurs. While they think they’ve achieved intellectual enlightenment and freedom, they have, instead, been played for the fool. They have become slaves to the flesh, and playthings to the enemy.”

“Ultimately,” Barber concludes, “there is no autonomy. In the end we each belong to one Master or the other. Ms. Tarico, the end is just the beginning. And eternity is a very long time.”

Photo: Live Action News

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