Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
The notorious U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has issued rulings against President Donald Trump’s efforts to protect Americans by enforcing immigration laws. But last week, the court broke from its left-leaning decisions by issuing one abortion advocates will hate.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule earlier this year that redirected “family planning” funds from facilities that kill unborn babies. If an organization receives taxpayers’ money, they must keep separate finances and facilities from clinics that kill the unborn.
Planned Parenthood, facing a cut in taxpayers’ money, sued the administration. Christian Headlines reported that in June, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit allowed the rule to go into effect. After 11 of the judges heard an appeal, they issued a ruling that surprised pro-lifers and abortion advocates. From Christian Headlines (emphasis added):
On Thursday, that same 11-judge panel ruled the earlier order by the three-judge panel would remain in effect – thus allowing the Trump administration to enforce the new HHS rule.
“After due consideration of the emergency motions, the motions for administrative stay of the three-judge panel order are DENIED,” the ruling said.
The 7-4 decision means a majority of the 11 judges believe the Trump administration likely will win on the merits of the case. All seven judges who allowed the rule to go into effect were nominated by Republicans (four by George W. Bush, two by Trump and one by Reagan). The four dissenting votes came from Democratic-nominated judges (all by Clinton).
Naturally, Planned Parenthood doesn’t like the decision:
“While we are incredibly concerned the panel did not recognize the harm of the Trump-Pence administration’s gag rule, we will not stop fighting for the millions across the country in need for care,” Wen said. “Planned Parenthood will keep fighting to block this dangerous rule that allows the government to censor our doctors and nurses from doing their jobs.”
Can pro-life taxpayers get any relief from contributing to the slaughter of unborn life? Most of the time, they can’t. Courts strike down their efforts to stop any of the money they earn from going to Planned Parenthood. This time, a liberal federal court ruled in favor of life.
Photo credit: Life News – Steven Ertelt
Guess PP can no longer get away with that bookkeeping trick that allowed them to pretend that their abortion “services” were separate from whatever else they do, even though it was obvious that the two were sharing facilities and staff. Wonder if their pals in Hollywood will give them enough money to make up for the taxpayers’ dollars they’ll lose.
Also wonder if they’ll ever get the message that “freedom of choice” includes the choice of citizens like myself NOT to pay for other people’s abortions. Not holding my breath.