In a move that has ignited controversy, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced his decision to cut millions in taxpayer funding from a pro-life program that provides counseling and housing for pregnant women.
Democrat PA Governor Cuts Funding to Program Helping Pregnant Women – THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO HAVE BABIES DEMOCRATS WANT YOU TO KILL THEM https://t.co/Ezo9GCS82c
— Raven🐦⬛in Flight (@DrkRaven62) September 5, 2023
The decision, which is set to take effect on Dec. 31, terminates the state’s longstanding contract with the nonprofit organization Real Alternatives. This marks the first instance in the nation where substantial state and federal subsidies have supported anti-abortion counseling centers.
Under the program, Real Alternatives has been responsible for distributing state and federal funds to various Pennsylvania centers, including Catholic Charities, anti-abortion counseling centers, and maternity homes. These centers have been pivotal in providing essential support and housing for pregnant women who are seeking alternatives to abortion.
Shapiro justified the decision by stating that his administration will not continue to support the pro-life organization and will instead focus on promoting abortion and reproductive healthcare for women in the state.
This shift in funding allocation has raised concerns among Republicans who value the importance of providing alternatives to abortion for pregnant women. The executive director of St. Margaret of Castello Maternity Home, Eileen Artysh, expressed her concerns about the impact of this decision on the center’s ability to continue its operations.
While state funding is not the entirety of the center’s budget, it has played a crucial role in supporting housing, materials, and parenting counseling for pregnant women in need.
Artysh emphasized that many of the pregnant women who seek assistance at the maternity home have already chosen life for their babies and are seeking support to make that choice a reality.
Pennsylvania has a unique history as the pioneer of the “abortion alternative program” initiated in the mid-1990s by then-Governor Bob Casey, an anti-abortion Democrat.
The state began funding alternatives to abortion alongside existing programs that supported Planned Parenthood’s services for women’s health. This funding approach had enjoyed bipartisan support from both Republican and Democratic governors over the years.
Real Alternatives, in a statement, highlighted the significant impact of its network of centers, having provided assistance to approximately 350,000 women through 1.9 million office visits in the state.
The organization received approximately $7 million in funding from the state in 2022, which was then distributed to over 70 centers, inspiring similar programs in other states and demonstrating the effectiveness of pro-life alternatives.
Despite opposition from Republicans and pro-life advocates, the decision to defund the program has been a major objective for Democrats in Pennsylvania and has gained support from pro-abortion groups, including Planned Parenthood PA Advocates.
The Shapiro administration now plans to redirect $8 million in state subsidies to other women’s health providers, further fueling the debate on the best way to support pregnant women in challenging circumstances.
