By Amber Dolle
Behind every good man is a good woman. How many times have we heard that age-old saying? Sure, some women who still believe that our gender is being suppressed by men might hear that quip and immediately think: discrimination. I, however as a woman do not take offense in the least. I hear that quote and immediately think that when it comes to their husbands, women have quite a bit of power to influence a mans decisions. That being said, I wonder just how much influence Melinda Gates, wife of the worlds richest man, Microsofts Bill Gates, wields when it comes to allocating the millions of dollars she and her husband give to charity every year. I question this because Bill and Melindas foundation has given millions to some of the most anti-woman, anti-child, anti-family organizations in existence.
The Gateses once again made headlines after Time magazine announced its People of the Year earlier this week, giving the honors to Bill and Melinda, along with U2 front man Bono.
Bill and Melinda Gates are co-chairs of a foundation which is committed to promoting greater equity in global health, education, public libraries and support for at-risk families. Because of this, I have to believe that the Gateses have their hearts in the right place. However, their good works are completely contradicted by the fact that they support, promote and fund organizations that endanger peoples lives.
Some of the foundations grant recipients include the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Alan Guttmacher Institute, the United Nations Population Fund and the World Health Organization. The common thread in all of these organizations is that they promote the killing of children through abortion and the perpetuation of unhealthy and immoral lifestyles by pushing contraception on every living human person.
Sure, many people the world over see nothing wrong with contraception or even abortion. We would like to think that such people dont believe in God or at the least, are not regular church goers. Not so. Unfortunately, many churches today even endorse such evils. However, there are some churches, namely the Catholic Church, that have stood up for the rights of the preborn and have called contraception, especially abortifacient contraception, wrong. So, one would surmise that anyone who identifies herself as a Catholic would not support such things.
Wrong again.
Melinda Gates is a professed Catholic, yet she aids in funding these groups that want nothing more than to harm the Catholic Church and suppress its teachings. So, while some might plead ignorance when confronted about supporting such groups, Melinda should know better. The church of which she claims membership consistently teaches that abortion and contraception are evil and should not be endorsed.
Sure, the Gateses give health grants, but even some of those have their flaws. For example, the campaign focused on AIDS seems to put more emphasis on a vaccine rather than tackling behavioral changes. Human behavior is the root of this pandemic, yet those who work to put an end to AIDS rarely focus on a true way to help this tragedy: abstinence outside marriage.
Melinda Gates has a tremendous opportunity to make a difference by supporting real pro-family organizations rather than those who support the killing of children. In 2005 alone, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave a $3 million grant to the International Planned Parenthood Federation. Why then, does a professed Catholic, choose to support a group that facilitates the killing of innocent preborn children? I dont have the answer to that question. I guess we should ask Melinda.
In 2006, I would only hope that Melinda would use her potent powers of persuasion to move her husband to support organizations that truly help vulnerable persons and populations rather than hurt them. The Gateses have been blessed beyond belief and they should use those blessings to help spread a culture of life. After all, it makes economic sense. When more babies are born, it amounts to more potential Microsoft customers who can add to the Gates fortune.
So, from one Catholic woman to another, I beseech Melinda to be the good woman behind her man and take a long hard look at the organizations she helps to fund. Killing preborn children, pushing contraception and condoning unhealthy, immoral lifestyles are diametrically opposed to her faith. The bottom line is that many of the groups the Gateses support hurt people not help them. I hope that in 2006 Melinda returns to the code of the Catholic Church and works only to protect those innocent souls who are at risk of being lost by the very organizations she supports.
Source: Amber Dolle is the media director for American Life League.
My husband Randall always says that BESIDE every good man is a good woman. I agree and it's biblical when you consider us gals came from the guys side.
Gee Wiz, maybe Milinda Gates believes that women, just like men, have the right to decide their own destinys. Maybe she believes that WOMEN, not the state, not the church, have the right to decide for themselves when they will have children. Oh my god, what an incredible concept! Women are human beings, not slaves, not incubators, which by the way is what you seek to make them.
Hi I am a recent graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, and am a Gates Scholar. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pays for all my education through my PHD. Without this scholarship, I would not have been able to finish undergrad with incurring a tremendous amount of debt. Gates funded my undergrad at FUS and is funding my current grad studies at St. Thomas in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
I am not defending the Gates' support of anti-life organizations, but I must admit that for what they have given me - I am grateful.
I have begun a blog-series on Life Issues feel free to check it out:
www.debaterelatepontificate.blogspot.com
Peace.
I have to response about this issue. Any rational human being believes that a woman has a right to fulfill their own destiny. This pro-abort propaganda is getting old Tommy. No one is even supporting to restrict women on when they have children. We want no murder of unborn children. There's a big difference. Always, why don't you guys discuss the possible hardcore side effects like depression and sterility that can come as a result of abortion, the new evidence of the personhood of the unborn by 3-D ultrasound devices, many mainstream scientists calling life as beginning in conception, and Margaret Sanger's meeting with the KKK in 1926 plus her Plan of Peace proposal calling for the segregation of what she calls the "unfit." We Pro-Lifers don't deny women their humanity. We love women, but you deny the unborn their humanity instead. I find it hypocritical when you support the women alone, but want unborn babies to be killed. I support both women and the unborn. Shedding innocent blood is morally wrong for me. Also, laws exist restricting obsence human behavior, so just because we are restricted on what we do to our bodies, doesn't mean that we want women to be placed as second class citizens. Citizenship to the unborn is just. Abortion is a violation of the Constitution being cruel and unusual punishment and it's murder without the due process of law. We Pro-Lifers will fight and I'm not intimidated, because stats, history, and facts are on our side.
By TruthSeeker24 (Timothy)