Heartbeat International

WASHINGTON, DC, January 23, 2009 – The following joint statement by Heartbeat International and 21 of the nation’s pre-eminent pro-life organizations was issued today in response to President Obama’s signing of an executive order revoking the Mexico City policy. The Mexico City policy is a Reagan-era policy that forbids taxpayer monies from funding organizations that promote or perform abortions overseas:

“We are distressed that in the midst of the country's greatest economic crisis since the Depression, this Administration is going to allocate millions of taxpayer dollars to abort children in developing countries.

“Reversing the Mexico City Policy is nothing less than a bailout of the abortion industry, taking money away from grassroots organizations that truly help women and children in order to fund two radical abortion lobbyists in particular – International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International.

“By forcing abortion down the throats of indigenous peoples throughout the world, who want real aid, not abortion, we are needlessly antagonizing potential allies, undermining the President's promise of respectful international cooperation of just two days ago.

“We truly hope that this is not the first step toward the new Administration becoming the most pro-abortion Administration in history.”

For more on the Mexico City Policy, read Congressman Chris Smith's statement, Smith: Obama Moves to Expand Abortion Around World.

Recent Gallup Poll indicates that 58% of Americans disapprove of Funding for abortion providers overseas

“Obama’s decision to reverse the prohibition on funding for overseas family-planning providers may be the least popular thing he has done so far.” View the poll.

The question Gallup asked was phrased as follows: “Thinking now about some of the specific actions Barack Obama has taken since he has been in office, would you say you approve or disapprove of each of the following…How about allowing U.S. funding for overseas family planning organizations that provide abortions” The American people are joined by international leaders who also disapprove of the Obama decision to rescind the Mexico City Policy. The attached press release from Alianza Latinoamericana para la Familia includes quotes from four Latin American leaders who are disappointed by Obama’s decision to rescind the policy. As Christine Vollmer comments in the attachment, “President Obama has announced his willingness to fund the enemies of the People of Latin America whose laws generally are very respectful of the right to life before birth.”