Conservatives blast Obama over international family planning rule

Well nothing surprising about this!

Conservatives blast Obama over international family planning rule

by Daniel Burke
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS) Anti-abortion religious leaders are criticizing President Obama's decision late Friday (Jan. 23) to restore federal funding of international groups that provide abortions or information about the procedure.

"An administration that wants to reduce abortions should not divert U.S. funds to groups that promote abortions," said Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, who heads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

The so-called Mexico City policy, which bans U.S. government aid to groups involved with abortions, was first enacted by former President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Former President Bill Clinton rescinded the ban in 1993; former President George W. Bush reinstated it in 2001.

Obama said in a statement Friday that the policy had "undermined efforts to promote safe and effective voluntary family planning in developing countries." Obama announced the end of the ban one day after the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion in the United States.

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