There is no peace in relations between the Catholic world and the Obama administration, particularly with regard to topics such as abortion and birth control.
The latest case involved the decision taken by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to stop financing the Conference of Catholic Bishops, which helps women who have fallen victim to exploitation through prostitution.
This is according to the Washington Post.
The funding, which began in 2006, was interrupted when the Catholic Church refused to offer abortion services and methods of contraception to women, in line with the Church’s teachings.
The HHS chose to fund three different associations, which were able to offer a broad range of “obstetrical and gynaecological treatments.” “I think this is a sad form of manipulation in favour of the politics of abortion,” Mary Ann Walsh, spokesman for the Catholic organisation, said.
The HHS pointed out that as of the mid ‘90s, 800 million dollars (more than 580 million Euros) were allocated to Catholic organisations, and of these, 348 million (more than 250 million Euros) went to the Episcopal Conference of Bishops.
The Catholic world and the Obama administration had already clashed in the past, on topics such as same-sex unions and the HHS’s suggestion of offering women free contraception.