WDUQ pulls the plug on Planned Parenthood

WDUQ-FM (90.5) has cancelled an $5,300 underwriting agreement with Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania after complaints from Duquesne University's administration that the group's mission is not compatible with Catholic teaching. THANK YOU!!!!!

WDUQ is owned by Duquesne University which is of course a Catholic University. Planned Parenthood provides abortions and birth control. Catholic doctrine holds that both contraception and abortion are sins hence the uproar. Whoever allowed this anywhere near the airwaves should be shown the door.

The station, which began its fall pledge-drive campaign last week will have to work a bit harder to replace the money but staying true to the gospel seems like a reasonable trade to me.

State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, is urging WDUQ-FM to resume running corporate underwriting messages from Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania.

"I call on Duquesne University to respect the editorial independence of WDUQ. Any other decision would harm the station and the community," said Mr. Frankel, chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic delegation in the state House. (And there's the problem)

My question is why would Planned Parenthood even consider spending money on a Catholic station? Unless the mission was to embarass WDUQ rather than support public radio.

Kimberlee Evert, the president and chief executive officer of the local chapter Planned Parnthood asked L.A. Johnson of the Post-Gazette, "Is WDUQ now going to screen every donor to find out whether they're in compliance with Catholic doctrine?"

I certainly hope so Ms. Evert. I hope so....

Full Story

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

WDUQ is not a Catholic station. It is a public radio station which exists on a Catholic campus.
According to the article link you provided:
"The [university] president's office reached me and I spoke with Dr. [Charles J.] Dougherty and he expressed great concern about the university taking a gift from Planned Parenthood and felt that was inappropriate," Mr. Hanley said yesterday. "I can understand the university's feelings about that. Underwriting is actually a donation. It is not an advertising buy."

Does this mean WDUQ and Duquesne University should reject the donation support of anyone who believes in the right to abortion or believes Planned Parenthood provides much more to the public than just abortions? If so, WDUQ will be out of business within the year. Shame on Duquesne University for shackling a PUBLIC radio station.

Anonymous said...

Right on!