“It was so clearly and blatantly trying to come up with a certain outcome,’’ one official told the Post on the condition of anonymity. “That’s very distasteful to people.’’
Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services have denied any unfair treatment.
George Sheldon, acting assistant secretary for HHS’s Administration for Children and Families, told the Post that the department had “followed standard procedure.”
“I don’t think there was any undue influence exerted to make this grant go one way or another,’’ Sheldon said.
“Ultimately, I felt it was my responsibility – and I’m not trying to get anyone off the hook here – to do what I thought was in the best interests of these victims.’’
Although the department initially said at least four anti-trafficking grants would be awarded, only three groups were ultimately given awards: Heartland Human Care Services, Tapestri and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.
According to the Post, individuals familiar with the matter say that Tapestri and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants both scored “significantly below” the bishops’ conference in independent reviews.
This spring, political appointees at the Department of Health and Human Services were involved in adding new written instructions to groups requesting grants through the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
The new instructions dictate that “strong preference” will be given to organizations which offer referrals for the “full range of legally permissible gynecological and obstetric care.”
In an Oct. 13 blog post, Sr. Walsh said the new instructions amounted to an unwritten rule of “Anybody But Catholics.”
She pointed out that the bishops’ outreach has always received superior rankings for its work.
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Michelle La Rosa is deputy editor-in-chief of Catholic News Agency. She has worked for CNA since 2011. She studied political philosophy and journalism at the University of Dallas.