Catholic bishops boldly urge Congress to stop forcing taxpayers to fund the destruction of human life and gender transitions for minors through Planned Parenthood.
Key Takeaways
- Two prominent Catholic bishops have endorsed a Republican budget bill that would defund Planned Parenthood and block federal funding for transgender procedures for minors
- Planned Parenthood received over $1.75 billion in taxpayer funds between 2019-2021 while providing abortion services and gender transition treatments
- The GOP-led “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” aims to redirect funds to life-affirming healthcare providers that don’t perform abortions
- Despite claims from left-wing groups that defunding would increase costs, religious and conservative leaders maintain that taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize morally objectionable services
Bishops Stand Against Taxpayer Funding of Abortion and Gender Transition Services
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has thrown its substantial moral weight behind a Republican-led House effort to defund Planned Parenthood and block federal reimbursements for transgender drugs and surgeries for children. Spearheading this effort are Bishops Daniel E. Thomas and Robert Barron, who issued a powerful joint statement condemning the use of taxpayer dollars to fund services many Americans find morally objectionable. The proposed budget language would effectively prevent Medicaid reimbursements to abortion providers and end federal payments for transgender treatments for minors.
“Americans should not be forced to subsidize abortions and ‘gender transition’ services with their tax dollars,” said Bishop Daniel Thomas and Bishop Robert Barron.
The bishops’ advocacy comes at a critical time as the House Budget Committee advances what’s been dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” legislation that incorporates key elements of conservative priorities regarding life, border security, and energy policy. The bishops specifically pointed to Planned Parenthood’s massive taxpayer funding—more than $1.75 billion between 2019 and 2021—to highlight why this reform is necessary. The abortion giant received nearly $800 million in taxpayer dollars in a recent 12-month period alone, funding many conservatives believe directly enables the termination of unborn lives.
Planned Parenthood’s Expanded Agenda Under Scrutiny
The bishops didn’t limit their criticism to Planned Parenthood’s abortion services. They specifically called out how the organization has expanded into providing gender transition services to minors. This escalation of controversial medical interventions targeting children has alarmed many parents and religious leaders across the country. The bishops expressed particular concern about how Planned Parenthood has pivoted to providing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors—interventions that can have permanent effects on young people’s development and fertility.
“For decades, Planned Parenthood has received government money and offered low-income women one terrible option: to end the lives of their babies. More recently, they have used the same taxpayer funds to expand their destructive offerings by promoting gender ideology and providing puberty blockers and hormones to minors, turning them into lifelong patients in the process,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas and Bishop Robert Barron.
The bishops’ statement fundamentally challenges the premise that the government should compel taxpayers to fund organizations providing services many Americans consider deeply immoral. Instead, they argue for redirecting resources to health centers that provide comprehensive care without involvement in abortion or controversial gender transition procedures. This aligns with Republican lawmakers like Speaker Mike Johnson, who has advocated for shifting funding to federally qualified health centers that don’t perform abortions.
Conflicting Claims About Financial Impact
Left-wing publication Mother Jones has pushed back on the defunding effort, citing a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate that the plan would allegedly add $300 million to the deficit over the next decade. This claim contradicts the fiscal responsibility argument often made by conservatives and highlights how politically charged the debate has become. The publication also emphasizes that Planned Parenthood provides services beyond abortion, such as cancer screenings and birth control, which would be impacted by the cuts.
“We encourage greater support for authentic, life-affirming health care providers that serve mothers and their children in need. We urge all members of Congress and the Administration to work in good faith to protect vulnerable women and children from mutilating ‘gender transition’ services and the scourge of abortion,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas and Bishop Robert Barron.
The bishops’ push for defunding comes as Republicans in Congress see a unique opportunity to advance pro-life policies through the budget reconciliation process. The bill is not yet scheduled for a floor vote in the House and will likely change before reaching the Senate. However, the strong backing from the Catholic Church gives moral weight to the effort and could help unify conservative support behind this initiative to stop taxpayer dollars from funding what many consider the destruction of innocent human life and harmful interventions on vulnerable children.
