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In response to the letter from Charles Pope:

While Mr. Pope and I respectfully disagree on our moral views, I welcome his suggestion that abstinence can achieve our mutual goals of planned pregnancy and fewer abortions.

Planning parenthood is fundamentally necessary to secure our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of our individual moral views. When education and birth control are not accessible and affordable, there can be no planning and the result is too often abortion or much harm to the parents, the grandparents, and especially to the unplanned child.

This is a difficult problem in need of more solutions. Would that abstinence were so easy and effective. It does not solve the problem for the 40 percent of our high schoolers in Idaho who have had sex. Planned Parenthood’s education offerings can empower our young people to make the right decisions for themselves.

Support the fundamental rights of American women. Oppose vocally the appointment of Mr. Price as secretary of HHS by calling the offices of our senators today. And join Mr. Pope and I in our discussion.

NANCY GERTH

Sagle