South Carolina rules Planned Parenthood to stay a state ‘family planning provider’

August 30, 2018 CNA Daily News News Briefs 1 Print

Columbia, S.C., Aug 30, 2018 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- A judge has ruled that Planned Parenthood’s designation as a “family planning provider” for South Carolina’s Medicaid program does not mean that state funding is being used to pay for abortions.

U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis made the ruling in an 18-page decision granting Planned Parenthood a temporary injunction against a July order issued by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster.

In July, McMaster issued the order in an explicit attempt to deprive the controversial abortion provider of state funds.

All three of South Carolina’s abortion facilities–two of which are operated by Planned Parenthood– were covered by his order, which stated that these locations were “unqualified” to provide family planning services.

Planned Parenthood is currently receiving approximately $82,000 in funding from South Carolina for “family planning services.”

Through a spokesman, McMaster said that he was upset with the ruling and “will continue to do all that he can to make sure no taxpayer dollars either directly or indirectly subsidize abortions in South Carolina.”

Federal law already prohibits the use of taxpayer money for abortions, except in cases of rape or incest.

Despite drops in the number of contraceptive services offered and in total number of patients seen, government funding for Planned Parenthood has increased over the last decade.

According to its 2016-2017 annual report, it received more than $500 million in government funding; making government  – 37 percent – the largest source of its income.

Planned Parenthood claims that state money is not used for abortions, and is only used for family planning services. This is disputed by former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson, who said in a 2011 column that “money received by Planned Parenthood affiliate clinics all went into one pot at the end of the day — it isn’t divvied up and directed to specific services.”

Johnson left Planned Parenthood and now operates the group “And Then There Were None,” which assists abortion workers with leaving the industry.

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Capuchins raise funds for victims of Papua New Guinea earthquake

March 11, 2018 CNA Daily News 0

Denver, Colo., Mar 11, 2018 / 04:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- As Papua New Guinea begins to recover from a major earthquake, the Capuchin Province of St. Conrad is raising funds in an effort to help those affected by the devastation.

Capuchins have served as missionaries in the country since 1955, and several of the missionaries currently in Papua New Guinea belong to the St. Conrad province, based in Denver, Colo.

“Sadly, dozens of our people lost their lives, mainly caused by landslides. Four young girls were crushed by a falling wall as they slept in their home in Mendi town. Also in Mendi, a young couple and their first-born child were killed by a landslide,” reported Bishop Don Lippert of Mendi, himself a Capuchin.

“Telephone and internet communications are severely limited and in many places access to water and electricity has been interrupted. Many roads have been blocked by major landslides,” Bishop Lippert continued.

He added that “Reports from the remote parishes paint a grim picture of major loss of infrastructure. The diocese’s network of schools and health centers has sustained serious damages throughout the rural, mountainous area.”

Capuchin missionaries to Papua New Guinea built some of the country’s first schools, hospitals, and medical clinics.

On Feb. 26, the Papua New Guinea highlands were struck by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, causing over 100 deaths and countless more injuries. The epicenter of the quake was in Enga province, in the vicinity of Wabag.

Days later, on March 6, Papua New Guinea was again hit by a 6.7 magnitude aftershock, leaving the country without electricity and access to communication systems. Over a dozen more deaths occurred during the aftershock, raising the initial death toll to approximately 117.

The Papua New Guinea Red Cross estimated that upwards of 143,000 people have been affected by the earthquake, leaving as many as 17,000 displaced from their homes. Many people are relying on air-drops for their food and water supply.

The earthquake has also damaged much of the islands’ infrastructure through landslides

The governor of the Southern Highlands Province, William Powi, said that the local government has reached its limit for relief efforts, saying, “it is beyond the capacity of the provincial government to cope with the magnitude of destruction and devastation,” according to the New York Times.

Although the islands have a long journey ahead in rebuilding their devastated communities, the Capuchins hope that their funding campaign will give the islands the aid they need.

Pope Francis recently expressed his concern over the situation, invoking “divine blessings of strength and consolation” to those affected by the disaster.

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