Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Earle Hilgert. I am a Presbyterian minister and Professor of New Testament Studies Emeritus at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. I am a resident of Albemarle County. I am speaking in support of Planned Parenthood and will say a few words regarding moral values with which Planned Parenthood is deeply involved.

The basis of morals in both the Jewish and the Christian scriptures is the command, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." These words lie at the heart of non-profit organizations that are devoted to the social welfare of human beings, organizations such as Planned Parenthood. Their devotion to education for healthy family life, for the plight of orphan children, and the relief of women who find themselves faced with daunting reproductive situations are all expressions of their concern for moral values.

But there are other moral values involved here. One of these is fair play. Planned Parenthood has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in building a state-of-the-art facility that meets the high standards of the state for their programs. What they were building has always been public knowledge, but only now after their money is spent and their labor invested, are the claims against them being brought. That is not fair play, and fair play is a moral value.

Another moral value is freedom to follow one's conscience within the law. When a minority who hold deeply an understanding of morality that is not shared by others, seek to force their standards upon the majority of the population, this is not fair play, it is not democratic, and it is not in harmony with this nation's legally expressed moral values.

I hope you will allow Planned Parenthood to continue its good, legal and moral work.

I thank you.

Earle Hilgert, November 9, 2004