Citizens in Philadelphia have filed a lawsuit over a scheme by their elected officials to use their tax money to pay for abortions.
The Thomas More Society said in a published report that its lawyers are representing a number of citizens in the lawsuit against the city, Mayor James Kenney, Treasurer Jaqueline Dunn and Controller Rebecca Rhynhart.
The case, in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, seeks to halt the city and its officials from transferring the planned $500,000 to the Abortion Liberation Fund of PA, a private organization.
Thomas Breth, a lawyer for the legal team, explained the problem.
“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prohibits its funds from being spent on abortion, with rare exceptions. Yet the mayor of Philadelphia is giving an unrestricted half million dollars to an organization for the expressed purpose of funding abortions,” he said.
The state’s limits can tax money say it cannot be spent for abortion unless it is to prevent the death of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest.
“The website for the abortion group invites visitors to ‘Schedule an appointment for your abortion, even if you are unsure how you will pay for it’ and encourages visitor secrecy stating, ‘Let us know if it is OK for us to leave a voicemail identifying ourselves as the ALF or if we should say this message is from your friend Jordyn,'” the legal team reported.
The limits come from state law, which explains, “no Commonwealth funds and no federal funds which are appropriate by the Commonwealth shall be expended by any state or local government agency for the performance of abortion.”
The issue also is addressed in the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act, the complaint notes.
“This move by the mayor is clearly politically motivated,” Breth explained. “It’s not that Philadelphia has an extra half million laying around to spend.”
Just a few months ago, the city’s budget director was warning the city was depending on federal help to meet its budget.
“This move by the mayor is contrary to state law, and our clients intend to stop it,” Breth said.
Live Action News had reported just days ago on Kenney’s plan to subsidized commercial abortionists’ profits with $500,000 from the city.
At the time, Kenney defended the use of taxpayer money for abortion with the claim that abortion is both safe and life-saving.
For 25 years, WND has boldly brought you the news that really matters. If you appreciate our Christian journalists and their uniquely truthful reporting and analysis, please help us by becoming a WND Insider!
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].
SUPPORT TRUTHFUL JOURNALISM. MAKE A DONATION TO THE NONPROFIT WND NEWS CENTER. THANK YOU!