U.S. Bishops' Chairmen Call on U.S. House of Representatives to Retain Pro-life Protections in Federal Budget

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has begun to mark up federal budget bills, including those that fund Medicaid and other government insurance programs.  Unfortunately, these bills currently exclude longstanding bipartisan policies that prevent taxpayer dollars from being spent on elective abortions.  These pro-life policies, including the Hyde Amendment, have prevented taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortions.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Bishop David J. Malloy, chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued a statement calling on the Appropriations Committee to restore these provisions to prevent taxpayer funding of abortions.  The bishops called on committee members and all members of Congress to "protect taxpayers from having to pay for the evil of abortion, and to instead use our tax dollars for the common good and welfare of all."

The USCCB is asking those who have not done so to sign a petition expressing support for the Hyde Amendment at http://www.notaxpayerabortion.com/ and to forward it to their friends and family. The bishops hope to have millions of Catholics sign the petition by July 16.