U.S. bishops ‘applaud’ expanded Mexico City Policy

U.S. bishops released a statement in favor of the new United States Department of State rules expanding the Mexico City Policy and limiting the funding of abortion abroad.

“We support robust funding for authentic lifesaving and life-affirming foreign assistance and applaud new policies that prevent taxpayer dollars from going to organizations that engage in ideological colonization and promote abortion or gender ideology overseas,” the bishops said.

The statement was released by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) leaders Bishop Edward Burns of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth; Bishop Daniel Thomas of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities; and Bishop Elias Zaidan of the Committee on International Justice and Peace.

“God entrusts us with a responsibility to share our blessings to help preserve the lives and dignity of our brothers and sisters in need,” they said.

“We also call for the implementation of any related policies to be carried out in a manner that recognizes the inherent dignity of every human person and does not harm those who are racially or ethnically marginalized.”

New additions to the policy

The newly published additions to the Mexico City Policy, which historically limited certain federal funds from going to foreign nongovernmental organizations that perform or promote abortion abroad, introduced limits on activities related to gender identity and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The rules are collectively being referred to as the Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA) Policy, which “imposes certain abortion-related requirements on foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), United States NGOs, public international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals,” according to the PHFFA.

The PHFFA also includes the measures Combating Gender Ideology in Foreign Assistance (CGIFA) and the Combating Discriminatory Equity Ideology in Foreign Assistance (CDEIFA).

Thomas offered a previous statement that addressed the rule related to the performance and promotion of abortion and the end to performing and funding research using aborted human fetal tissue. He reiterated that “taxpayer dollars have no business funding organizations that target vulnerable populations with abortion.”

“As we applaud these actions protecting preborn children, we renew our commitment to dialogue with and pray for the administration as we seek to advocate for all human life from conception until natural death,” Thomas said.