| KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE |
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Mexico City Policy Hearing Wednesday
Use of taxpayer money to promote abortion at issue  On Wednesday, October 31, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the Mexico City Policy entitled, "The Mexico City Policy/Global Gag Rule: Its Impact on Family Planning and Reproductive Health." The hearing will be adversarial. Only one of the four listed witnesses supports the Mexico City Policy. The Mexico City Policy provides that no U.S. population assistance funds can be given to a non-govenmental organization unless it certifies that it will not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning. Pro-abortion groups oppose the Mexico City Policy because they are determined to spread the practice of abortion to Third World Countries. The Mexico City Policy is an adminstration policy that was first set forth by the Reagan Administration in 1984 at the population conference in Mexico City. The policy was overturned by President Clinton in 1993 but reinstated by President Bush in 2001. In a letter to Congress, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activites, highlighted the origins and purpose of the Mexico City Policy and made four observations: first, abortion does not plan a family but kills a member of the family; second, studies show that promoting contraceptives does not necessarily reduce abortions; third, when made available alongside preventive methods, abortion replaces prevention; and fourth, it is contrary to logic and common sense to say that we can reduce abortions by supporting groups dedicated to promoting abortion. Click here for the full text of Cardinal Rigali's letter.
The ad shown above, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was printed in three Washington, DC publications directed at members of congress and their staffs (Roll Call, The Hill and CQ Daily). The cost of producing and publishing the ad was underwritten by the Knights of Columbus, as are the activities of the Pro-Life Office of the USCCB. To see a larger version of the ad in PDF format, click on the image. |
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