For Immediate Release:
November 21, 2006

Contact: Maxwell Ciardullo at (212) 819-9770 x 325

Washington, DC- The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) is extremely concerned over the Bush administration's recent appointment of a physician who opposes choice, contraception, and sexuality education to lead the nation's family planning programs.

Last week, Dr. Eric Keroack-currently the "medical director" of A Woman's Concern, a Christian organization that runs six crisis pregnancy centers in Massachusetts-was named the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services. "Once again, the administration has proven that it is more concerned with advancing a conservative social agenda than with ensuring the health of our nation's women," said Joseph DiNorcia, president of SIECUS.

A Woman's Concern believes that "abortion, as an act of violence that kills an innocent baby, is a violation of both the Christian faith and natural law." Further, the organization claims that birth control is degrading to women and provides inaccurate information about contraception on its website.

In his new role, Keroack will be in charge of the federal government's Title X program which provides high quality family planning and preventive health care services to over five million low-income individuals annually. "Title X programs have been under-funded for years leaving many women without access to basic reproductive health care. These programs need an advocate not an ideologue," DiNorcia continued.

Under Dr. Keroack's supervision, A Women's Concern centers will not distribute, encourage, or provide referrals for contraception. In addition, the organization received close to half a million dollars each year between Fiscal Years 2003 and 2006 to provide fear-based, abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. "It is unconscionable that an individual with this track record would be put in charge of the very programs that are supposed to provide women with the information and services they need to prevent unintended pregnancies and protect their reproductive health," DiNorcia said. "We urge the Bush administration to reconsider this dangerous appointment."

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