Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

VA announces plan to expand abortion services for veterans, beneficiaries

  • September 9, 2022
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News, Medical Issues, National News

VA announces plan to expand abortion services for veterans, beneficiaries

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Sept 2. it will provide abortion counseling and services to pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

An interim final rule submitted Sept. 1 will allow VA to provide access to abortion counseling and — in certain cases — abortions to pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries, according to a statement from the department. Specifically, VA providers will be allowed to perform abortions when the life or health of the pregnant veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. VA beneficiaries enrolled in CHAMPVA will also have access to this care, the statement said.

Interim final rules are rules issued by federal agencies that become effective upon publication without first seeking public comment on the rules’ substance. Instead, federal agencies solicit public comment at the time of publication and may make changes to the rules depending upon that feedback. The VA said the abortion rule will be available for public comment for 30 days following publication. Once published, concerned individuals can submit comments here.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough said the rule is a “patient safety decision,” but pro-life advocates are decrying the VA’s decision.

‘Not health care’

“Abortion is not health care,” said Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “In fact, it carries serious physical and mental health risks — and expanding abortion on demand into the VA is illegal, period.”

In a letter to McDonough sent Aug. 26, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, a Baptist and prominent pro-life voice in Congress, expressed his concerns about any expansion of abortion-related services to those receiving VA health care.

Current federal law and regulation prohibits the VA from providing abortion services, he wrote, citing Section 106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which “directs the VA to provide women with ‘general reproductive health care … not including … abortions.'”

Objections

“I strongly urge you and all VA officials to ensure that any regulatory actions proposed or issued by your agency are consistent with laws enacted by Congress, including Section 106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992,” he stated. “Only Congress can change federal law, and Congress has held for the past 30 years that the VA is not permitted to offer abortion services.

“Abortion is not and will never be healthcare [sic]. Healthcare protects life. Abortion takes life. Instead of promoting the taking of human life, I would challenge you, and others within the VA, to respect the dignity of our veterans and all of their family members, including unborn children, by ensuring services provided and funded by the VA are focused on true healthcare consistent with federal law.”

The VA decision comes after the Supreme Court in June overturned federal abortion protections in the Dobbs decision.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Amendment on women pastors falls short again
    Amendment on women pastors falls short again
    June 12, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • SBC affirms resolution on gender, marriage and family
    SBC affirms resolution on gender, marriage and family
    June 12, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Southern Baptists defeat motion to abolish the ERLC
    Southern Baptists defeat motion to abolish the ERLC
    June 12, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Amendment on women pastors falls short again

Messengers voted 3,421 to 2,191—60.74 percent to 38.90 percent—in favor of a motion to “clarify” only churches with male pastors are considered in “friendly cooperation” with the SBC.

SBC affirms resolution on gender, marriage and family

Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas voted to affirm all eight resolutions brought to the floor — with some debate — but with only one amendment, deemed friendly.

Southern Baptists defeat motion to abolish the ERLC

Messengers to the SBC annual meeting in Dallas voted 3,744 (56.89 percent) to 2,819 (42.84 percent) on June 11 to reject a motion introduced by Willy Rice of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla., to abolish the ERLC.

Lifeway aims to ‘build things’ to come alongside churches as they make disciples

In his report to the Southern Baptist Convention on June 11, Ben Mandrell said Lifeway’s role is to “build things for the body of Christ,” not to be one-size-fits-all.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel