Judge Upholds Abortion Clinic Funding Ban

NEW YORK — A judge Friday upheld regulations banning federal funding for family planning clinics that include abortion counseling and services among their programs.

The regulations support the Reagan Administration’s long-held opposition to abortion by cutting all funds to clinics that offer even abortion referrals.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton of Manhattan conflicts with federal court rulings in two other states--Colorado and Massachusetts--and could bring the abortion issue before the U.S. Supreme Court.

“This is a significant legal landmark for us that the courts are upholding the validity of the regulations,” said Nabers Cabaniss, deputy assistant secretary for population affairs for the Health and Human Services Department.

But members of a group including state Atty. Gen. Robert Abrams, who brought the suit with the city of New York, Planned Parenthood and others against the regulations, said they would appeal the ruling as soon as possible. They also stressed that abortion services would remain available.