“It would be naïve, therefore, to think that Canadian tax dollars will not be used by (Planned Parenthood) to promote abortion in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mali, Sudan and Tanzania.”  

The funding is allocated to health care and education programs in those five countries where abortion is presently illegal.

“Under the guise of ‘education’ this money will be used to advance (Planned Parenthood’s) fallacious claim that access to abortion is necessary in order to prevent maternal deaths and to promote women’s health,” the bishop wrote.

“Surely it is not too late to redirect this $6 million grant to organizations which truly respect the life and dignity of women and children at every stage.”

COLF is co-sponsored by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus.

The rights league, in a letter to both Harper and Oda, also said the funding of Planned Parenthood is “not in keeping with Canada’s conditions on its portion of the G8 program for maternal and child health, which specifically stated that abortion would not be funded.”

“The condition that the (Planned Parenthood) funds will be directed only to countries where abortion is illegal is of very limited value,” said Joanne McGarry, CCRL director. “(Planned Parenthood) will merely reallocate its resources to serve its interests. Moreover, funding to (Planned Parenthood) in these circumstances will not move that organization from its stated advocacy on promotion of family planning through abortion.

“Abortion advocacy is a key part of the organization’s mandate, and any funds given to it will become part of that advocacy even if the condition is, in a strict sense, observed,” McGarry said.

She said the money allocated to Planned Parenthood could have gone to other NGOs that provide health care for mothers and children without engaging in or advocating for abortion.

Conservative MP Brad Trost, who led the campaign within the Tory caucus to defund Planned Parenthood, said he will continue to publicly speak out against his government’s decision. He told CCN that it is important for concerned Canadians to write letters not only to Harper and Oda, but to their local MPs.

“This is an issue where politicians look to the level of interest among their voters,” he said.