US pro-life activists hold a rally opposing federal funding for Planned Parenthood in front of the Capitol. The state of Utah can end its contract with Planned Parenthood, which is paid for with federal funds, a judge has ruled.
US District Judge Clark Waddoups, who previously blocked an effort by Utah governor Gary Herbert to defund the Utah affiliate of Planned Parenthood, has ruled that “these are the types of decisions that should be left to elected officials and not managed by the courts”. He added that the governor’s authority to act on behalf of the entire state overrode the possibility that some Utah residents might be harmed by the funding cutoff.
Governor Herbert had sought to cut funding following the release of secretly recorded videos showing Planned Parenthood leaders selling foetal tissue from abortions for research purposes. Judge Waddoups said it was in the government’s interest to avoid the appearance of corruption, and that Planned Parenthood had failed to prove the governor’s personal opposition to abortion was his main reason for cutting the contracts.
No firearms at Mass, says bishop
Openly carrying firearms at Mass is “not appropriate”, a Texan bishop has said. Tyler’s Bishop Joseph Strickland has issued a pastoral letter in connection with legislation that permits those with licenses to carry handguns openly in places not prohibited by law. Under the legislation, which went into effect on January 1, the bishop said, “we will see our fellow citizens openly carrying weapons in stores, restaurants, theatres, parks and other public places”.
Urging those who chose to carrying firearms “to continue to do so in a prudent and responsible manner”, he said. “I believe that openly carrying a weapon is not appropriate during the sacred liturgy and may understandably cause great discomfort to some of the faithful of the diocese.”