The Obama administration is at it again — attempted to force Christian groups that conduct international relief work to refer women for abortions.
“The Obama administration is getting ready to issue new rules requiring charities to provide abortions to child refugees entering the US without their parents. Faith-based groups say this is a contravention of the rights of parents and a violation of the conscience rights of faith-based groups helping resettle the children,” says Susan Yoshihara of the pro-life group C-FAM.
“The rules require faith-based providers to make referrals for emergency contraception, partner with groups which provide abortion, or notify the federal government which would make arrangements for the abortion. If groups do not do so, they are not eligible for federal aid,” she said.
Yoshihara says Catholic organizations affected by the proposed rules conveyed their objection to the new rules to the Obama administration.She said the groups’ said their comment on the proposed rule is that the requirement to perform, partner or refer for abortion or contraception are a violation of conscience rights.
They are required to comply no later than June 24, 2015.
Fortunately, there is something pro-life Americans can do about the Obama administrations abortion push.
“The public has until Monday to comment on the fast-tracked new rules, which were issued on Christmas Eve. The administration says it would be “contrary to the public interest” to wait “until a public notice and comment process is complete.” The administration also asserts that no Congressional review is required and that there is no issue with federalism or any impact on families in the new guidance,” she said.
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Yoshihara indicates the UN is putting pressure on nations to force groups to make abortion referrals.
This isn’t the first time the Obama administration has pushed abortion on Christian groups helping women in need. The Obama Administration put abortion ahead of human trafficking twice — by denying a grant to the Catholic bishops to help victims because they wouldn’t promote abortion and by refusing to investigate how the Planned Parenthood abortion business covered up potential cases of sex trafficking.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had previously received a five-year $19 million grant to help victims of sex trafficking during the administration of pro-life President George W. Bush. Sensitive to how women are exploited in the sex industry, the Catholic bishops prohibit any subcontractors from using the funds to pay for or promote abortions. Instead, the Catholic bishops provide comprehensive case management services to survivors including medical and mental health services.
While the Obama administration extended the contract briefly in March, the bishops were notified that it would not be renewed. Instead, Obama officials awarded the grant to three other groups (Tapestri of Atlanta, Heartland Human Care Services of Chicago and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants of Washington) — even though the bishops have helped more than 2,700 victims with the funding.
