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US SENATE STAFFER REVEALS STATE DEPARTMENT UNDERMINING BUSH ON ABORTION

State Department Coaches Pro-Abortion NGOs, Says Senate Staffer

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com/C-Fam.org) - Friday Fax, the weekly report from the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-Fam) has been told by a high-ranking Senate staff member that State Department officials consistently undermine President George W. Bush's pro-life international policies. The staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Friday Fax that members of the State Department coach nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) on how to circumvent "Mexico City policy," which forbids US money from going to groups overseas that promote or perform abortions.

"Mexico City policy" can be called the centrepiece of the administration's international pro-life position. According to the staff member, however, not everyone in the executive branch shares President Bush's commitment to the issue. It is alleged that when NGOs apply to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for funding, State Department employees recommend that they describe their activities to promote or provide abortions in the most general terms, most usually as the promotion of "reproductive health."

As long as these NGOs remain vague enough on their applications, USAID does not suspect a possible conflict with the Mexico City policy. Thus, according to the Senate staff member, because of the State Department's advice, foreign NGOs that promote or perform abortions are receiving US money to do so, against the direct wishes of the president.

See the whole Friday Fax report at: (will be available in the coming days)
http://www.c-fam.org/FAX/Volume_6/faxv6n11.htm

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