National News

NY Catholic Conference Expresses ‘Relief’ Over Abortion Limits at Planned Parenthood

August 8, 2024
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Governors Wes Moore of Maryland, Kathy Hochul of New York and Tim Walz of Minnesota speak to reporters after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on July 3 in Washington, DC. Biden met with all of the nation’s Democratic governors, virtually or in person, in an effort to shore up support following his performance in the first presidential debate against Donald Trump. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — After reports that Planned Parenthood will no longer provide abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy at its New York City location due to funding challenges, the New York State Catholic Conference (NYSCC) is questioning where the $35 million Gov. Kathy Hochul allocated in 2022 to subsidize local abortion clinics went.

The news of Planned Parenthood’s decision was first reported by The City on Aug. 5. According to the report, Planned Parenthood will also close four clinics across the state for the same reason, including its sole clinic on Staten Island.

Kristen Curran, the NYSCC director of government relations, said in an Aug. 7 statement that the news of the scaleback at Planned Parenthood’s Manhattan Health Center and closure of four other clinics is a “welcome relief.” However, she noted taxpayers now deserve answers on how Hochul’s allocation was used.

“Recently, Governor Hochul unilaterally allocated an astounding $35 million to subsidize abortion clinics throughout the state,” Curran said. “If Planned Parenthood is now saying it’s too expensive to provide safe care to women in its clinics, we must ask where exactly are these tens of millions of dollars going?”

The NYSCC represents the bishops of New York State in public policy matters.

Hochul announced the $35 million allocation in May 2022. In the announcement, Hochul’s office said that $25 million would expand abortion provider capacity and ensure access for patients seeking abortion care in New York. The other $10 million was slated to go towards security grants to help ensure the safety of providers and patients.

At the time, Hochul touted the decision as part of her commitment to “never stop fighting to make New York a safe harbor for all who need care and a blueprint for other states to follow.” Hochul’s office did not respond to The Tablet’s request for comment on the changes at Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood’s Manhattan Health Center can no longer afford the “deep sedation” required to perform abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, Wendy Start, the president of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, told the New York Times. Procedures after 20 weeks of pregnancy make up less than 2 percent of abortions performed at the clinic, the report notes.

Abortion is legal in New York State through 24 weeks of pregnancy, after which it is permitted if the fetus is not viable, or the life, physical health, or mental health of the woman is at risk.

Curran also highlighted a portion of the report that more than half of Planned Parenthood patients rely on Medicaid, which she cited as a “glaring failure by the state of New York” that shows “the horror of abortion disproportionately affects low-income women.”

“We pray that this shocking news is a wake-up call to our lawmakers, Curran said. “May they steer valuable state resources to those that truly need them and join us as we walk with women in need. Together, we can work to build a place where no mother is pressured to end her pregnancy because of difficult circumstances.”