In an apparent attempt to mend relations with Christians, Planned Parenthood has hired a national chaplain to "articulate the spiritual dimensions of sexuality and reproduction."
Rev. Ignacio Castuera, senior pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church in the Watts district of Los Angeles, also will seek to build better relations with the largely pro-life Hispanic community.
"His expertise in offering spiritual insight and guidance to the reproductive health movement is invaluable," Planned Parenthood president Gloria Feldt said in a statement announcing the appointment Monday. "We are honored that he has accepted this position."
But he will have a hard time winning Hispanics, who already have marked him as a betrayer of their Catholic beliefs because of his past involvement as an abortion activist, according to Raimundo Rojas, director of Hispanic outreach for the National Right to Life Committee.
"From its inception, Planned Parenthood wanted the involvement of the clergy to promote its message that Hispanic women are better off by destroying their children," Rojas told the pro-life website LifeNews.com. "Castuera joins a long-list of misinformed Hispanics that buy into the message of death."
Castuera was head of the Latina Outreach Project of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and has worked in association with the California Abortion Rights Action League, according to Planned Parenthood.
He also was honored by the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights for his commitment to abortion rights.
The pastor's role with Planned Parenthood will be to promote the organization's mission and vision.
"He will play a pivotal role in communicating the theological justification for choice, sexuality and contraception to the Planned Parenthood community and the general public," the organization said.
Castuera "also be available to provide advice to volunteer and staff leadership on moral and ethical issues around our mission."
Rojas believes, however, as Hispanics become more aware of the effects of abortion, Castrueras and other campaigners will "become more and more isolated," LifeNews said.