by Jay Shepard

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, alongside the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by decision of the President of the United States to “any person recommended to the President for award of the Medal or any person selected by the President upon his own initiative,”^[3] and was created to recognize people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”

“Today, I had the honor of awarding Cecile Richards the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Biden said. “With absolute courage, she fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are — a nation of freedom. Through her work to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women’s reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote, she has carved an inspiring legacy.”

Does it take courage to oversee the taking of more than 3 million lives of innocent children? Does it take courage to sell the fetal tissue of slaughtered children for profit? Does it take courage to live well making a salary of $1,033,274? Did it take courage to carry on the legacy of Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood’s founder, well known racist and eugenicist? I think we know that it is not courage but rather being the embodiment and face of evil. However, it takes fearlessness to believe there is no God who will judge you.

The award says a great deal more about President Joe Biden than it does about America’s leading abortionist. “I’m a practicing Catholic. I’m not big on abortion,” says President Biden. As President he called for the elimination of the Hyde Amendment, which is a legislative provision barring the use of federal funds to pay for abortions, except to save the life of the woman or if the pregnancy arises from incest or rape as well as eliminating the Dornan Amendment, which keeps the city of Washington, D.C. from using funds to pay for abortions.

Biden 2024 budget includes $512 million for the Title X program, a large percentage of this money helps fund Planned Parenthood and similar organizations in other ways. Aso included was at least $657.5 million for international family planning and reproductive health programs which can and does , go toward abortions. In 2021, immediately upon entering office, Biden reversed a ban on federal funds going to international aid groups that perform or inform about abortions known as the Mexico City Policy.

There was an opportunity for this “practicing” Catholic to show his love for his neighbor by recognizing those who have done so much and make “an especially meritorious contribution” for so little in return. There is no FREEDOM without life and that many of those working hard for dignity of all humans work for next to nothing for years rather than hauling in salaries in excess of a million dollars. Examples of this are available in the two least populated states in America. 

In the bluest of blue states Vermont, where Mary Beerworth has been the executive director of Vermont Right to Life.

In the reddest of red states, Wyoming, Marti Halverson leads Wyoming Right to Life as its President.

Across this nation there are so many stories of great people doing great work who do not seek fame or fortune. They just want to make a difference in making people’s lives better. We may not know all their names, but they certainly deserve the Medal of Freedom much more than Cecile Richards and deserve a President that understands what “meritorious Service looks like.

I hope that the incoming President will recognize the need to give future awards to those like Beerworth and Halverson, because there is no freedom without life.