CNA: Planned Parenthood Eschews Federal Funding to Continue Abortion Referrals

US Secretary of State: Religious Freedom Matter to Billions of World’s People, by Jim Fair
July 19, 2019
Wall Street Journal: A Coup at Planned Parenthood (‘Insufficiently Political’)
July 19, 2019

Catholic News Agency, July 19, 2019

Washington D.C., Jul 19, 2019 / 12:31 am (CNA) – As a new regulation takes effect, barring Title X recipients from making abortion referrals, Planned Parenthood has reportedly decided to forego the federal funds in order to continue directing women to abortion.

“We are not going to comply with a regulation that would require health care providers to not give full information to their patients,” Jacqueline Ayers, the group’s top lobbyist, said Tuesday as reported by ABC News.

The Trump administration announced July 15 that parts of the Protect Life Rule, which prohibits recipients of Title X family planning funds from referring or performing abortions, will go into effect immediately. Clinics that provide “nondirective counseling” about abortion may still receive funds.

Pro-life advocates have praised the regulations as a commonsense way to ensure enforcement of already-existing rules against taxpayer money being used for abortions.

“A strong majority of Americans have consistently voiced their opposition to taxpayer funding of abortion – it is even unpopular among Democrats and self-described pro-choice Americans,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony List last week. ….