Statement on Proposed Rule for Title X Program

April 21, 2021

Today the Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, issued a statement on the Biden Administration’s proposed rule on the Title X program:

“It grieves and exasperates believing Catholics that our President, while identifying himself as a devout Catholic, prioritizes the expansion of the killing of innocents at every turn. Last week’s announcement of a new ‘proposed rule’ in the Health and Human Services department that would reverse the prohibition of abortion funding with Title X funds further calls into question President Biden’s claims to defend the defenseless.

Abortion is not family planning; on the contrary, abortion is the killing of the innocent in the womb, and only invites destruction and misery into the human family. Therefore, I strongly agree with Archbishop Joseph Naumann’s clear statement that this proposed rule be abandoned:

‘This proposed rule is terrible policy; it would reintegrate abortion into what is supposed to be a pre-pregnancy family planning program. I strongly urge the Biden Administration to suspend this proposed rule and leave the Title X program as it was intended and authorized to be – a program entirely separate from abortion.’

I call on anyone with a heart and decision-making influence in the Biden Administration to lead a ‘cease and desist’ effort on the expansion of the killing of pre-born boys and girls, now.”

Read the full statement from Archbishop Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.