A public-radio station, WDUQ, in Pittsburgh, returned a $5,000 donation from Planned Parenthood and stopped running underwriting messages for the organization last week after the station’s license holder and founder, Duquesne University, objected to the messages, saying they were “not aligned with our Catholic identity,” reports The New York Times.

The decision, which comes in the middle of the station’s fall pledge drive, has sparked public debate about whether the station’s news content is truly independent and whether the station should consider separating itself from Duquesne. Scott Hanley, the station’s general manager, who also serves on the board of directors of National Public Radio, says that while the station has no plans to relocate, the public discontent does appear to be affecting donation levels.

Mr. Hanley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “We’re not too far behind where we typically would be, but we’re concerned that the controversy is distracting from the fact that the station still relies on contributions.”

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