Birk: I didn't go to White House because of differences with Obama

BALTIMORE, June 7 (UPI) -- Retired Pro Bowl center Matt Birk says he skipped the Baltimore Ravens' visit to the White House because of political differences with President Barack Obama.

Birk told KFAN-FM, Rochester, Minn., he skipped the traditional White House visit Wednesday because he is opposed to the president's stands on abortion and same-sex marriage.

"I would say that I have great respect for the office of the presidency, but about five or six weeks ago, our president made a comment in a speech and he said, 'God bless Planned Parenthood,'" Birk said.

Birk, a Catholic and the father of six children, charged Planned Parenthood performs about 330,000 abortions a year.

He's also a supporter of traditional marriage.

"I am active in the pro-life movement and I just felt like I couldn't deal with that," he added. "I couldn't endorse that in any way."

Concluding a speech at a national Planned Parenthood conference in April, Obama said "Thank you Planned Parenthood. God bless you, God bless America."

Planned Parenthood says contraceptive services it provides prevent about 600,000 unintended pregnancies and 291,000 abortions annually.