Religion & Law

A couple of days ago, with respect to the continuing debate over the "abortion neutrality" of the new health-care law, Rick Garnett noted a story from Michigan about a Planned Parenthood decision in that state to open a new abortion clinic to prepare for the increased availability of abortions under the new health law.  Sadly, the same story was reported today in the Twin Cities in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:  "Abortion clinic will move; foes will too" (here).

Although Planned Parenthood acknowledged that "[d]emand for abortions has been falling for years," it is opening a new and larger abortion clinic to "prepar[e] for a possible increase in demand because of the new federal health care bill."  Although the article recites that federal money may not be spent on abortions, the article also notes that the federal law will provide more funding for community clinics operated by Planned Parenthood, including supporting this clinic that will also perform abortions.  The head of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life responded:  "We're not surprised to see Planned Parenthood position itself to receive millions more taxpayer dollars under President Obama's new health care mandates."

Greg Sisk