Jun 1, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The Catholic League is urging New York legislators to adopt a law that would require abortion providers to report incidents of child sexual abuse to authorities.
Catholic League president William Donohue said he is taking action in response to a recent situation in Indiana.
On March 1, the Medicaid fraud control unit of the Indiana attorney general’s office seized some medical records of Planned Parenthood clinics.
The seizure was authorized to determine “whether or not children were neglected by virtue of a failure to report instances of child molestation to the proper authorities.” In Indiana, anyone who is under 14 and is sexually active is considered a sexual abuse victim, and health care providers are required to report such cases to the authorities
“Immediately, Planned Parenthood instructed its clinics not to cooperate,” Donohue reported. However, an Indiana judge ruled yesterday that Planned Parenthood must turn over its records. The local ACLU affiliate is representing Planned Parenthood:
Planned Parenthood and the ACLU are “impeding justice for the victims of child sexual abuse,” Donohue commented.
The league president said he is writing to every member of the New York State legislature and urging him or her to adopt a bill by State Senator Stephen Saland that would make no exemptions for abortion providers in mandating that child sexual abuse is reported to the authorities.
According to Donohue, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, National Association of Social Workers and the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence have been trying to stop this legislation for the last three years.
“It’s time to end the cover-up, protect the kids and have one law for everyone,” he said.
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