Federal Funding of Planned Parenthood
How is Planned Parenthood funded? What special legal exemptions have been carved out for the industry? As the new Republican-controlled Congress takes up the question of defunding Planned Parenthood, understanding the specifics is critical – but funding is only part of larger concerns that must be addressed. This piece is the first in a three part series examining the funding mechanisms and special treatment Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry has received.
As the debate over abortion has intensified in recent years, much of the focus of the discussion has centered on Planned Parenthood, the United States’ largest abortion provider. In 2014-2015 (the last year for which data is available), Planned Parenthood affiliates performed 323,999 abortions. [1]
In 2015, undercover videos released by the Center for Medical Progress raised concerns about the allegedly illicit sale of fetal body parts and tissue and renewed the ongoing debate about taxpayer funding for the organization. This series will examine public funding for Planned Parenthood (at the federal, state, and local levels), as well as other “special” legislative treatment Planned Parenthood has received here in California.
Planned Parenthood bills itself as a “non-profit” provider of “women’s healthcare services.” However, the data reveals that Planned Parenthood is heavily subsidized by the federal government. [2]
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, Planned Parenthood reported revenue of $1.4 billion and a net revenue of $149.5 over its expenses. [3] A large portion of that funding comes from taxpayers. Approximately $553.7 million (or 43% of Planned Parenthood’s total revenue) comes from taxpayer dollars. [4]
CCC Urges Careful Stewardship of Programs for Poor in Governor’s Budget
The following statement was released by Mr. Edward ‘Ned’ Dolejsi, executive director of the California Catholic Conference, in response to California Governor Jerry Brown’s 2017 Budget Proposal:
“As he has done with other Budgets throughout his tenure, Governor Brown has shown fiscal restraint and caution in his 2017 Budget Proposal. We commend him for his prudence but we also urge his careful stewardship of programs that help the poorest and most vulnerable Californians. Such priorities as providing an opportunity for all residents to obtain health care insurance, funding the Earned Income Tax Credit to fight poverty, and continuing assistance for naturalization of immigrants must receive a high priority – especially given the uncertainty in Washington and the Governor’s worries of another recession. Many of those programs were decimated during the Great Recession and economically those who need them the most have still not recovered. We cannot have the same situation develop again. Also of particular interest is how the Budget will address the important need to expand funding for early childhood education and to address the current teacher shortage crisis. This may be an opportunity for the legislature to look creatively at tax policy as a financially responsible means to assist children, their parents and teachers.”
Poverty Awareness Month: San Bernardino Diocese Serving Those Most in Need
It is downtown San Bernardino in early December.
“I’m so hungry. I don’t feel good. I’m so hungry.”
The woman explains this in urgent tones and she scrambles off of her bicycle and up the steps to the office at St. Bernardine’s. She receives a sack lunch and eats where she stands.
After a bit of sandwich she asks, “Would it be too greedy if I asked for another?” When a volunteer hands her a second lunch, she thanks him, pulls her hood over her face and quietly cries.
Then in a flash she’s back on the bike and gone…but hopefully not forgotten.
That’s the goal of Poverty Awareness Month, an initiative by The U.S. Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). Throughout the month of January, Catholics are asked to consider the plight of the poor and how they can help Daily reflections and suggestions are available at usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-developmentpoverty-educatio/poverty-awareness-month.cfm.
“We have been praying for you unceasingly…”
The following are the remarks of Sacramento Auxiliary Bishop Myron Cotta at the Interfaith Council of Sacramento’s multi-denominational prayer service this week.
Good morning. A Blessed and Happy New Year to all!
As Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, and in the name of Bishop Soto, our Diocesan Bishop, along with the staff of the Cathedral, and together with my brothers and sisters representing our Faith Communities, we welcome you to this beloved and historic house of worship, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
This morning we gather to offer our prayers for you, the Legislators of State of California. As a sign of unity, we gather to ask God’s blessing upon you as you embrace the duties of this New Year.
We turn to the works of St. Paul found in his Letter to the Colossians. I believe they express the sentiments of this prayer service we offer in your honor.
On The Web:
Walks for Life in Northern and Southern California:
On January 21, Walk for Life West Coast and One Life LA will be holding concurrent walks in San Francisco and Los Angeles to commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and to be a vocal and visual message that people stand for life and shed light on the physical and emotional violence that abortion does to women and children.
The events are free and for those attending there are opportunities for parishes and youth groups to participate even if travel is not a possibility.
Auxiliary Bishop Solis to head Salt Lake City
Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis was listening to his brother priests during a morning deanery meeting in San Pedro when his cell phone began to vibrate. He ignored it. It went off again. And then again, but he didn’t answer.
He had another meeting later that afternoon, so he couldn’t join the others for lunch. He checked his phone and noticed that it was the papal nuncio — Archbishop Christophe Pierre — who had been calling. Bishop Solis called him back.
January is Human Trafficking Month
It is estimated 17,000 vulnerable men, women and children are trafficked across U.S. borders and then forced into slavery each year.
For more than a decade, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been a national leader in advocacy and education to eradicate sex and labor trafficking. For six years, USCCB and its partners provided intensive case management services to victims of human trafficking, assisting more than 2,232 survivors of trafficking and over 500 of their family members.
January 13, 2017
Vol. 10, No. 2