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Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following statement Aug. 6, 2015.

Pope Francis has repeatedly described abortion as the product of a "widespread mentality of profit, the throwaway culture, which has today enslaved the hearts and minds of so many."

Over the last few weeks we have been scandalized by a series of videos which reveal the extent to which this mentality governs the actions of Planned Parenthood in the United States, but it is worth noting that this inhumane behavior is not limited to that organization.

Indeed, although other abortion facilities may not all harvest fetal organs and tissues for further study, there are many facilities not affiliated with Planned Parenthood (including one in Little Rock) that nonetheless conduct procedures which, if they were to be made public in video format, would be rightly condemned as gruesome, inhumane and unconscionable.

But this shocking video footage does remind us that, in addition to directly attacking human life at its most vulnerable condition and exploiting women at a most vulnerable moment in their life, it now appears to be standard practice among some abortion providers to profit further from this tragedy through the sale of fetal organs and tissues, marketing the bodies of the human persons whose lives they have taken.

These actions are a grave offense against the dignity of human life and rightly merit the condemnation of all.

If the revelations about Planned Parenthood have reopened the wounds of anyone who has participated in an abortion, please know of my personal concern for you and my prayers for you.

Jesus can offer you healing through the ministry of the Church and I would like to invite you to participate in Project Rachel, the post-abortion healing ministry of the Catholic Church, which is open to all regardless of religion or lack thereof.

If you would like more information about Project Rachel here in Arkansas, please contact Anne Dierks at (501) 664-0340, ext. 357. For general information about Project Rachel nationwide, visit the Hope After Abortion website.

Sincerely in Christ, 
+Anthony B. Taylor
Bishop of Little Rock