Obama reveses Mexico City Policy- US to fund abortion clinics in third world

While on the one hand, many have hailed new executive orders issued by the Obama administration as ‘the right move towards respect for human rights’ and ‘ending a policy that endorsed some forms of torture’ – another executive order has been condemned by the US Catholic Bishops Council.

The executive order reverses not just former President Bush – Bu congress as well by refusing to provide funds for it during the Clinton years reversing the Mexico City  and clearing the way for US government funds and aid to be used to fund abortion clinics in developing countries.

A move that the Catholic church in America and here in the Philippines as well as the Vatican says is support for what Church believes is the murder of innocents.

In a Press Statement released by the National right to life council of America the US Bishops feel the move is wrong and goes against the very human rights principals that Obama was elected for – if after all – one ends a human life that cannot fight for itself or speak up for ones self then what was respect for human rights as platform used for but to fund the continued genocide versus the unborn – a sin in view of nearly all forms of organized religion.

Here is the statement in part from Cardinal Rigali’s press release:

President Obama issued the executive order restoring U.S. funding to organizations that perform and promote abortion in developing nations. Cardinal Rigali’s statement follows.

“It is very disappointing that President Obama has reversed the Mexico City Policy, which prevents U.S. funding of organizations that perform and promote abortion as a family planning method in developing nations. An Administration that wants to reduce abortions should not divert U.S. funds to groups that promote abortions.

“Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote to President-elect Obama last week urging him to retain this policy. As Cardinal George said in his letter:

“‘The Mexico City Policy, first established in 1984, has wrongly been attacked as a restriction on foreign aid for family planning. In fact, it has not reduced such aid at all, but has ensured that family planning funds are not diverted to organizations dedicated to performing and promoting abortions instead of reducing them. Once the clear line between family planning and abortion is erased, the idea of using family planning to reduce abortions becomes meaningless, and abortion tends to replace contraception as the means for reducing family size. A shift toward promoting abortion in developing nations would also increase distrust of the United States in these nations, whose values and culture often reject abortion, at a time when we need their trust and respect.’”
SOURCE U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

There are fears that now US funds will be released here in Asia as well to fund programs towards a global legalization of abortion. Some pro-Abortion groups have lobbied to tie in US Aid to legalization of abortion in the developing world.

A move that greatly concerns members of the CBCP in the country who have called on Philippine-Americans of all faiths to signify their voices against the new executive order as well as for a campaign by them to elected members of the house and senate to be emailed and called by Catholics all over to world to ensure that the “pro-death and pro-abortion” stance of the extreme left of American politics is not pushing to impose abortion supportive or legalization policies to the rest of the world.

A California congress-member meanwhile has spoken out defending the President, Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA), chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, says President Obama’s executive
order repealing the Mexico City Policy, ” Is an important step in
protecting women’s rights and in improving health care worldwide.”

Ignoring faith based and right to life groups concerns saying the Presidents actions were needed in his point of view. “The President’s action rights a wrong-headed policy that for eight years has hindered people in developing countries from having access to the contraceptives necessary to prevent unintended pregnancies, abortions, and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS,” Berman said.

His press release goes on to say, ” Known popularly as the Global Gag Rule, the Mexico City Policy prohibited federal funding for non-governmental organizations that discuss, counsel on, or provide abortions in developing countries. “
Berman’s statement – he is on the foreign relations commitee of the US congress – observed that “this policy – which would violate the
constitutional right to freedom of speech if placed on U.S.-based
non-governmental organizations – applied even if abortion-related
services were funded only with non-U.S. funds, and even if abortion was
legal in the country in which services were provided.”

“Repeal of these restrictions was long overdue,” Berman noted, “and the
action President Obama has taken is a clear signal that he intends to
change how America works with the international community in solving
global problems.”

But Berman seems to forget the gag order was in place and untouched except during President Clintons term in office starting in 1993.

Berman whose district has high number of Catholic and Hispanic voters may feel the heat as a US catholic groups and the right to life movement continues its battle to keep federal funding out the hands of those who want to see aboritions performed as they are in the USA.