Montgomery County Government to Subsidize Abortion Industry 

Now More
Than Ever 
By Lawrence Hamm 

As we begin Advent and the end of the calendar year approaches, I am pleased to report that – due to the continuing support of pastors and principals and the indefatigable journalistic efforts of our volunteer writers and editors – Our Parish Times newsgathering cooperative has continued the excellent coverage it began in 1991 of the school and parish events and activities, the people and programs that make living the faith together in Montgomery County so edifying. But I regret skipping an important story, and I want to correct that error now.​ ​

In a meeting on July 26, the Montgomery County Council, chaired by then Council president Gabe Albornoz, unanimously passed a $1 million supplemental appropriation proposed by County Executive Marc Elrich to the FY23 operating budget “to support access to abortion services and other related purposes.” For the first time ever, our county government will be using our tax dollars to directly fund abortions – although no gaps in the abortion services already available in Montgomery County were identified in the Proposal or in the introductory Memorandum. 
 
The Appropriation allows “grants to organizations in the County that provide abortion services.” Explaining the proposed abortion industry subsidy, the Memorandum states that: “Council could specify training and start-up costs for new abortion service providers in Montgomery County as one of the target areas for grant awards.” Senior Legislative Analyst Essie McGuire, one of the authors of the Memorandum, also mentioned funding provider relocation expenses among the "revisions and refinements" to the revised Supplemental Appropriation that she presented to the Council at its July 26 meeting. 
 
In this time of great need for political and social comity, the County Executive and the County Council needlessly decided to be divisive. All nineteen individuals, some representing local organizations, who submitted written or audio testimony to the Council prior to July 26 objected to the Supplemental Appropriation. Of the four persons who testified at the Council hearing, three objected. The only person who spoke in support did so “on behalf of the County Executive.”  

​Mark Rothe of the Archdiocese of Washington's Office of Public Policy submitted testimony on behalf of the Archdiocese that summed up the objections voiced by many who testified: “(I)t is unjust and short-sighted to direct taxpayer funds to elective abortion – particularly given the substantial demand for improved health care services for pregnant and parenting women and their families.​

Rather than spending taxpayers’ money for the benefit of abortion providers, the County should adopt policies that truly empower women in need, promote human dignity, and improve maternal health. ~ The County Council are stewards of public funds, with an obligation to spend the people’s funds on the common good, and not for the benefit of specially favored industries or interests. We urge you to use the tax monies entrusted to you to only fund and promote policies and goals that recognize and protect the authentic dignity of women and sanctity of human life in all conditions and at all stages of development.” 
 
Now more than ever, it is incumbent on Montgomery County’s approximately 350,000 Catholics, its social justice organizations, and its Catholic political representatives to take to heart the call to work to abrogate laws and governmental policy initiatives contrary to Christian principles – paramount among them the dignity of all human life – that is made so clearly in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.  
 
I look forward in the coming year to publicizing the efforts of such organizations as Maryland Right to Life, the Catholic Business Network, the Justice and Advocacy Council of Montgomery County, the local Knights of Columbus councils, Democrats for Life of Maryland, the Maryland Catholic Conference, and the Archdiocese of Washington to undo this uncalled for affront to the dignity of human life, abuse of authority, and misuse of County funds. 
 
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church  

Our Parish Times
December 2022