The Bishops of the United States raise their voices in opposition to President Biden’s executive order which allows federal funds to flow to foreign healthcare providers that support and perform abortions.
By Devin Watkins
US President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Thursday which reverses a ban on federal funds for organizations that promote and provide abortions in developing nations. His order cancelled the so-called Mexico City Policy—also known as the Promoting Life in Global Health Policy. It barred the use of taxpayer funds from going to organizations which perform abortions, offer abortion counseling, or advocate for so-called ‘abortion rights’. First enacted by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, the policy has previously been cancelled twice by Democratic presidents and renewed twice by Republican ones. Bishops ‘strongly oppose’ the move In response, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the United States (USCCB) released a statement lamenting the executive order. “It is grievous that one of President Biden’s first official acts actively promotes the destruction of human lives in developing nations,” they said. The statement was signed by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace. The Bishops say they “strongly oppose” President Biden’s reversal of the policy. “This Executive Order is antithetical to reason, violates human dignity, and is incompatible with Catholic teaching,” they wrote. “We urge the President to use his office for good, prioritizing the most vulnerable, including unborn children.”
• Culled from Vatican News
