'WELCOME RELIEF‘ BUT TROUBLING QUESTIONS’ RAISED

Catholic Conference statement on Planned Parenthood’s pause on late-term abortions

(Courtesy photo of Tyler Orsburn)

The following is a statement by Kristen Curran, director of government relations for the New York State Catholic Conference, on reports in “The City” and “The New York Times” that Planned Parenthood will cease performing late-term abortions at its New York City facility, and close four other clinics due to economic factors:

"The news that Planned Parenthood will close clinics throughout New York and stop performing late-term abortions in Manhattan due to the cost involved with providing deep sedation is a welcome relief. However, this development raises troubling questions for which taxpayers deserve answers. Recently, Governor Hochul unilaterally allocated an astounding $35 million to subsidize abortion clinics throughout the state. If Planned Parenthood is now saying it’s too expensive to provide safe care to women in its clinics, we must ask where exactly are these tens of millions of dollars going?

“It also was reported that more than half of Planned Parenthood patients rely on Medicaid. This statistic represents a glaring failure by the State of New York, demonstrating that the horror of abortion disproportionately affects low-income women. We pray that this shocking news is a wake-up call to our lawmakers. May they steer valuable state resources to those that truly need them and join us as we walk with women in need. Together, we can work to build a place where no mother is pressured to end her pregnancy because of difficult circumstances."

The Catholic Conference represents the Bishops of New York State in Public Policy Matters.