Memphis Shifts Family Planning Funds
The Shelby County Commission has voted to switch the county family-planning contract from Planned Parenthood to Christ Community Health Services.
The underlying issue remained abortion, according to The Commercial Appeal.
Catholic deacon Jeff Drzycimski was one of several abortion opponents who spoke at Monday night’s commission meeting, saying opponents didn’t want tax dollars to fund Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services.
Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Joan Carr said after the vote that the organization would now be forced to charge its patients for birth-control services and described the decision as political pandering.
A founding physician of Christ Community earlier said staffers would not refer women seeking abortions to providers who terminate pregnancies. An administrator, though, said the organization will describe options as required by federal rules.
