President Donald Trump has reinstated the Mexico City Policy prohibiting abortion funding overseas and issued pardons to pro-life activists who were convicted during the Biden administration.
Within days of his inauguration in Washington D.C., President Trump issued pro-life presidential orders, including the reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy that prohibits the promotion and/or provision of abortion abroad by non-governmental organisations in receipt of US federal funding.
Introduced by President Ronald Reagan in 1985, the policy has been rescinded by Democrat presidents, including Joe Biden in 2021, and reinstated by Republican administrations.
Pro-life advocates welcomed the reinstatement this week. Noted activist Lila Rose, the founder of Live Action, stated on X: “GREAT move by President Trump reinstating the Mexico City policy, which ensures American taxpayers do NOT fund the killing of babies overseas!”
Last week, a report to Congress reported that US funding allocated to combat AIDS overseas had been used to carry out abortions in Mozambique.
A top US called for an investigation into the Centres for Disease Control’s misallocation of funds.
“Whether CDC staff were being overly zealous, stupid, evil, or inept, they have violated the law and done a disservice to the country and those suffering from AIDS worldwide”, Senator Jim Risch said.
In a separate order, Trump ordered the enforcement of the Hyde Amendment that bans the use of federal funds to pay for abortions in the US.
Trump pardons 23 pro-life activists
Trump also issued 23 pardons for convicted pro-life activists, some of whom had been jailed for pro-life activism outside abortion facilities. President Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) asserted that they had prevented women from having abortions.
One such activist was Joan Bell, 76, a grandmother of eight, who was sentenced to over two years in prison.
Bell found out about her pardon after Bible study in jail and praying with her fellow inmates. She was released later that evening.
“We are so grateful to Trump”, Bell stated. “And to just feel the fresh air, God’s beautiful air, just wonderful. Just being out and being with my husband, my son, just glorious. There are no words to describe that kind of freedom.”
Trump signed the pardons in the Oval Office in the White House, where he stated: “They [the pro-life activists] should not have been prosecuted. Many of them are elderly people… This is a great honour to sign this. They’ll be very happy.”
Speaking at the annual March for Life in Washington on Friday, Vice-President JD Vance said: “No longer will our government throw pro-life protesters and activists – elderly, grandparents, or anybody else – in prison.”
“A positive start”, says SPUC
Daniel Frampton, SPUC’s Editorial Officer, said: “President Trump’s pro-life executive orders are a positive start for the unborn, at home and abroad, as well as activists persecuted by the Biden administration.
“Having already played an instrumental role in overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, President Trump’s second administration is again taking measures to protect unborn children, though the fight for the right to life is far from over.
“The Trump presidency is in stark contrast to the UK, where pro-life activists continue to be criminalised outside abortion facilities, and even silent prayer is outlawed. At least UK pro-lifers can look to the US as an example of what can be achieved in so little time.
“SPUC’s team that attended the March for Life in Washington certainly came back invigorated by their experience. They returned with renewed hope that similar achievements can be accomplished in the UK.”
