“…. 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, a devout Christian, has taken public stances before, especially recently when it has come to gay rights issues. Birk notably clashed publicly with former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, who has been vocal in his support for gay rights.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Former NFL center Matt Birk has never been afraid to share his political views, and he made a stand this week by declining a trip to the White House.

Birk, who played 10 years with the Minnesota Vikings and won a Super Bowl this past season with the Baltimore Ravens, skipped the customary White House invitation and meeting with President Barack Obama when the rest of his former Baltimore Ravens teammates went to the White House this week.

Birk said he made a stand because of recent comments made by Obama.

“I wasn’t there,” Birk told KFAN radio in Minneapolis on Thursday. “I would say this, 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.’ ”

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