Millions of dollars in federal funds will no longer be used for abortions Last week the White House announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will re-configure Title X regulations to ensure that taxpayer money does not provide for abortions. The new Protect Life Rule requires that family planning organisations that receive federal funds are financially distinct from abortion providers. Even before the Supreme Court handed down its Roe v Wade decision, which designated abortion as a constitutional right, the HHS has forbidden taxpayer funds from supporting abortionists. However, President Bill Clinton abolished these regulations, allowing for family planning activities and abortions to occur in the same facilities. Defenders of the Clinton model insist that federal funds do not support abortion, but only the family-planning services provided by some abortionists. But critics point out that the funds given to these abortionists are fluid, particularly with large international outfits like Planned Parenthood. The government might give Planned Parenthood $1 million (£755k) (billed as “Medicaid reimbursement”) towards preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, but in practise this $1 million can be used to kill unborn children. In fact, the real number is much higher, since 266 of Planned Parenthood’s abortion clinics are eligible for Medicaid reimbursements. In total this amounts to about $56 million every year. Since it was founded in 1916, Planned Parenthood has performed more than seven million abortions - a loss of life equivalent to 80% of London’s population. The Protect Life Rule leaves a great deal to be desired. But it comes on the heels of an even more promising development. Last month, as the Catholic Herald reported, Republican lawmakers in several states have proposed bills restricting abortion. While they are too strident to pass local legislatures, it is hoped they will be challenged in the lower courts so an appeal can be made to the Supreme Court. Thanks to President Trump’s appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Court, the pro-life cause has a 5-4 majority: the first time anti-abortion justices have had the upper hand since the Roe v Wade decision was handed down in 1973. Catholics will find this development particularly welcome in 2018, the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of Humanae Vitae. In it, Blessed Pope Paul VI firmly reinforced the Church’s centuries-old teachings on human sexuality. “All direct abortion,” he wrote, “even for therapeutic reasons, is to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children.” Paul’s words appear prophetic today. It seems provident that he is scheduled to be canonised in October. In the wake of the Irish referendum, Catholics may take this as an opportunity to recommit themselves to defending the dignity of life from conception to natural death. In America at least, they may find that the tide has finally turned in favour of the pro-life cause. Incidentally, President Trump was late coming to this position. As recently as 2000, he admitted to being driven by “pro-choice instincts”. Yet few statesmen have done more to defend innocent life in office. Thanks to Trump, the United States is poised to deliver the most debilitating blow to the abortion lobby in living memory.