WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 22, 01 (CWNews.com) - President George W. Bush issued an executive order on Monday, ordering that funding for international population control groups that provide or advocate abortion be cut.

    Bush's order counteracts one issued by former President Bill Clinton in 1993 at the beginning of his presidency that reinstated the funding. The ban had originally been put in place in 1984 by then-President Ronald Reagan.

    The order came as tens of thousands of pro-lifers marched in Washington to mark the 28th anniversary of the US Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand. Demonstrators said they were buoyed by the new administration in their hopes for a change in abortion policy in the US.

    On Sunday, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card said the administration would look at several regulations. Asked about the recently approved RU-486 abortion pill, Card said, "We're going to take a look at all of the regulations. We're going to take a look at all the executive orders."

    Pro-lifers also held out hope that Bush would appoint federal judges and Supreme Court justices who are pro-life. Just one appointment could tip the balance -- with many decisions now being made on 5-4 votes. Any nominee, however, would have to be approved by a Senate divided 50-50 along party lines.

For other news stories, see

January 23, 2001
volume 12, no. 23
DAILY CATHOLIC News in the USA

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