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US bishops urge Congress to end funding of Planned Parenthood

CWN - April 15, 2011

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is calling upon Congress to defund Planned Parenthood.

“It is indisputable that Planned Parenthood Federation of America is by far the largest provider and promoter of abortions nationwide, performing about a third of all abortions (332,278 abortions in Fiscal Year 2008-9),” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities. “Abortions also account for over a third of Planned Parenthood’s income. The organization has aborted over 5 million unborn children since 1970.”

“The organization’s involvement in abortion (now including chemical abortions using RU-486) has substantially increased in recent years, and its provision of other services such as prenatal care and adoption referrals has declined markedly,” he continued. “the organization has led numerous legislative campaigns and litigation strategies to oppose any meaningful limits on abortion, including modest measures such as public funding bans, informed consent provisions, and parental notice requirements for abortions on unemancipated minors. One of Planned Parenthood’s legislative priorities is to oppose conscience clauses (which it calls ‘refusal clauses’), so that hospitals, physicians and nurses will not be allowed to serve the health care needs of women without taking part in abortion.” “The question at issue here is: When low-income women need these legitimate health care services, should the federal government insist that they receive them from the local abortion provider?”

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  • Posted by: Bernadette - Apr. 17, 2011 2:12 AM ET USA

    What about the monies the bishops take from the taxpayers for CCHD/CRS/CC, et al? Isn't it a case of "the pot calling the kettle black"? These so-called "Catholic" charities have been diverting monies they receive from the govt. toward all kinds of non-Catholic and immoral activities/organizations. . CRS and CCHD likewise. Subsidiarity, bishops! Subsidiarity!

  • Posted by: frjpharrington3912 - Apr. 16, 2011 4:52 PM ET USA

    The support of the USCCB in calling on Congress to defund PP enhances the credibility of other oganizations and people who contend with good reason that tax payer money is being used by PP to do abortions. Though it is technically against the law for PP to use government funds for abortion Abby Johnson, former PP "employee of the year" and recent convert convert to the pro-life cause argues that monies received by PP goes into one pot and is not divvied up and directed to specific services.

  • Posted by: lauriem5377 - Apr. 16, 2011 12:13 PM ET USA

    Please pray every day that that the Holy Spirit will open the hearts of our Bishops to become more openly fervently pro-life!

  • Posted by: impossible - Apr. 15, 2011 10:48 PM ET USA

    How pitiful! They help to elect the pro-death crowd, promote their libeal agenda and then whine about them continuing to promote and fund Planned Parenthood. You got what you wanted, and the belated posturing doesn't help. When you play with fire thre's a good chance you will get buned.

  • Posted by: kmbold - Apr. 15, 2011 10:24 PM ET USA

    As usual, Johnny-come-lately.

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