DISNEY AND GOOGLE TIED UNIVERSITY INITIATIVE, GIVING STUDENTS $25,000 TO MAKE FILMS PROMOTING ABORTION
A California university initiative with ties to Walt Disney Studios and other major companies is funding a grant program for student film projects promoting abortion rights, prompting concerns from pro-life advocates about the message the program intends to convey.
The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, part of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, unveiled the program in an Aug. 17 tweet. The “Reproductive Rights Accelerator” program will award at least three senior film students a $25,000 grant toward the script development and creation of films about the issue of abortion.
Picture: University of Southern California
A statement on the film school's website the following day indicated that the grant comes in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade in June restoring individual states' ability to regulate or ban abortion.
The program is funded by the Women Moving Millions non-profit. The organization consists of 340 members who make a minimum of $1 million in commitment to support initiatives for women and girls.
Stacy Smith, the founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, stated that the "curtailing of reproductive rights" made it necessary to educate the public about abortion and the need to "find legal solutions to protect marginalized communities."
"Entertainment has a unique ability to reach viewers and provide that education," Smith said, stressing that "our goal is to illuminate how many opportunities there are to use storytelling as a tool to expand the conversation and create substantial attitude and policy change."
Several major corporations back the initiative, including Walt Disney Studios, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, and Google. After Roe's reversal, the Walt Disney Company was among 60 corporations that promised to reimburse employees if they travelled to another state for an abortion. An internal memo obtained by CNBC shows the company has promised to pay employees' travel fees to get an abortion out of state.
Picture: Walt Disney and Google logo
The concept of abortion is an act that is frowned upon by GOD. It is ending the life of another before it gets the chance to come into the world. Many pro-abortion activists are of the view that the fact that they have the body, they have the right to do what they please with it but as a Christian, the Bible tells us the opposite. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, believers are made to understand that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and as such care must be given to it. Any sin that will desecrate that temple must be avoided.
Aside from this, it is also clear the world seeks to push its agenda and has no issue funding that. That should also be the mindset of Christians. Promoting the Gospel of Christ can be expensive and burdensome but Christians across the globe must develop the mindset to push the Kingdom's agenda regardless of whatever it would cost them. Christ sacrificed His life to save the world from its sins. As a believer, what is being sacrificed to promote the Word of God?