Patricia Ireland moves from NOW to YWCA Exclusive commentary by David
Brandao Senior Policy Supervisor American Life League
May 2, 2003
So Patricia Ireland's going to
be the new head honcho-ette at the YWCA. If nothing else, you've got to
love an announcement that provides such wonderful monologue fodder for a
whole slew of radio talk hosts and cable news channel pundits. The usual
gang of conservative hand-wringers is already wailing, "Mamma mia! There
goes the neighborhood!"
At first glance, it's tempting to ask if
Patricia Ireland's task is to do for the YWCA what the Village People
did for the YMCA. But the truth is, unfortunately, that the YWCA has
been on the wrong side of the moral tracks for a long, long time. This
bunch is already well entrenched as agents of the Culture of
Death.
A steady series of past actions put the YWCA in the ranks
of the most radical feminist organizations. It's just been a low-profile
outfit with more of a past than a future. By hiring Ireland, however,
they're finally coming out of the closet and into the new millennium.
Ireland's ascension to the throne is really just adding the cherry to
the top of an already-decadent hot fudge sundae.
For one thing,
if you're worried that the YWCA will become pro-abortion with Ireland at
the helm — sorry, too late. The YWCA cannot become pro-abortion; it
already is pro-abortion.
Want proof? It's online at www.ywca.org.
The YWCA website features links to the crème de la crème of pro-abortion
politics, including Ireland's long-time former employer, the National
Organization for Women. As equal opportunity baby-phobes, the YWCA links
to organizations that support pro-abortion female political candidates
of both Democrat and Republican stripe (Emily's List for the Dems and
Wish List for the GOP), as well as the League of Women Voters, a
collection of non-partisan pro-abortion women.
Now that pretty
much covers the gamut, doesn't it? There's not a single pro-life link on
the YWCA's political page, so Ireland will feel right at home. In fact,
she already sees herself as a comfortable fit in the YWCA executive
suite. "In one sense, I'm diving back into the women's movement," she
told the New York Times. "The YWCA has a certain amount of
respectability that I would like to capitalize on."
And that is
precisely why her appointment, while no great sea change in the eyes of
knowledgeable pro-life people, is such a frightful thing. Perception is
reality, and most people perceive the YWCA's moniker as an accurate
expression of what the organization is — an association of young
Christian women. If that's what you think, though, think again. There's
not much Christianity at the YWCA.
For instance, you'd really
like to believe that the YWCA mission statement would be similar to that
of good, faithful, Christ-centered outreach programs. But — prepare to
be disappointed. The mission statement is lukewarm pabulum. Inclusivity
rules, you know, and we wouldn't want to offend any of our non-Christian
brethren — er, sistren. In the organization's own words, the YWCA is
"nourished by its roots in the Christian faith and sustained by the
richness of many beliefs and values," and "strengthened by diversity."
This purportedly Christian organization also hasn't even the
most microscopic of qualms about hiring a woman whose "personal
lifestyle choices" have included having both a husband and a girlfriend.
That's certainly "diverse," but hardly in sync with the teachings of the
Christian faith.
As a matter of fact, you seldom see the word
"Christian" on the YWCA website — just "YWCA." It's sort of like when
Kentucky Fried Chicken became KFC because "fried" had negative
connotations in a nation swimming in cholesterol. The full name of the
Young Women's Christian Association appears only a few times, perhaps
because "Christian" has negative connotations in a nation swimming in
hedonism.
The "organizational history" section of the website
shows that the YWCA has been a leading contributor to the building of a
post-Christian America. Pages brag that the YWCA was a pioneer in sex
education, dating back to the early days of the 20th century (she wasn't
mentioned, but Margaret Sanger got her start about the same time). Other
pages talk of the "quest for equality" in birth control, and a YWCA
resolution that noted, "A woman has the right to choose in the matter of
abortion based on her own religious and ethical beliefs and her
physician's guidance. The YWCA is opposed to mandatory parental
consent."
In a Christian organization, whoever said something
like that would be quickly rebuked — or more likely thrown out. In
Christian charity, one could possibly ask the writers of the YWCA's
abortion statement, "What's your Scriptural reference for that?" The
only possible answer is the Book of Radical Feminism, an epistle to
which both Patricia Ireland and the YWCA have reverently contributed
chapter and verse.
By the way, the name "Jesus Christ" doesn't
seem to appear on the site at all. Understandable, perhaps. He was,
after all, a man.
