Bishop Martino Asks Sen. Casey to Rescind Vote

"Your failure to reverse this vote will regrettably mean that you persist formally in cooperating with the evil brought about by this hideous and unnecessary policy."

SCRANTON, PA (The Diocese of Scranton) - The following Press release is found on the web site of the Diocese of Scranton:

Bishop Asks Sen. Casey to Rescind Vote on Policy
Affecting Overseas Abortions

In a letter to Sen. Robert P. Casey, Bishop Joseph F. Martino condemned the vote taken by Sen. Casey against an amendment to a bill which would have prohibited millions of U.S. tax dollars from going to organizations abroad that provide and promote abortion.

The Martinez Amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) would have reinstated the Mexico City Policy rescinded by President Obama on Jan. 23. The amendment was defeated in a vote of 60-37.

In his letter, Bishop Martino condemns Sen. Casey's vote against the Martinez amendment which would have prevented "over 450 million dollars of American foreign aid . . .[from going] to organizations that are militant in promoting abortion as a method of population control, particularly in countries that find abortion objectionable on moral grounds."

The Bishop continues, "Your vote against the Mexico City Policy will mean the deaths of thousands of unborn children. This is an offense against life and a denial of our Catholic teaching on the dignity of every human being. This action is worthy of condemnation by all moral men and women."

The Bishop's letter urges Sen. Casey to rescind his vote on the Martinez amendment. "Your failure to reverse this vote will regrettably mean that you persist formally in cooperating with the evil brought about by this hideous and unnecessary policy," says the Bishop.

The Mexico City Policy was first implemented under President Reagan. It was rescinded by President Clinton and reinstated by President Bush. The policy required that non-governmental organizations abroad "agree as a condition of their receipt of [U.S.] federal funds" that they would "neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations." The policy exempted abortions done in response to rape, incest, or life-threatening conditions.

"The core of the argument is whether U.S. taxpayers ought to be forced to fund efforts abroad that utilize abortion as a means of family planning," said Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL). "If we want to continue fostering a culture of life, where every life is considered sacred, every child is celebrated, and life at all stages is given the dignity it deserves, then we will reinstate this [Mexico City] policy."

A release issued by Sen. Casey's office the day after the vote says that "Restrictions on the federal funding of abortions are in place both domestically and overseas. U.S. funding of abortions overseas is prohibited by the 1973 Helms Amendment. . . . [which reads] "No foreign assistance funds may be used to pay for the performance of abortion as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions."

But as Bishop Martino's letter points out, the Helms Amendment does not restrict organizations from using their own money to provide and promote abortions. It does not deny money to organizations that are militant about pressuring foreign governments to reverse anti-abortion legislation. The Mexico City Policy does both.

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