Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz Closes Two Centers in Iowa

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jun 20, 2012   |   3:48PM   |   Washington, DC

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Iowa affiliate of the nation’s biggest abortion business, has announced it is closing two of its abortion referral clinics — the Newton clinic and the Family Practice Center in Des Moines. These centers, which refer women for abortions,  will be closed effective July 19 and they follow Planned Parenthood of the Heartland closing the doors in March on their abortion centers in Storm Lake and Knoxville, Iowa.

According to an email from the abortion business, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland will be consolidating the Newton center into their Ankeny office. The Family Practice Center will be moved into their surgical abortion center in Des Moines.

“Their release stated that “this consolidation will help serve patients” and would be “affordable and convenient” to their clients,” Jenifer Bowen, Executive Director of Iowa Right to Life, said in response. “It does not make any sense to say that they will better serve their clients by telling those in Newton that they will have to drive 35 miles, at a minimum, to enter the Ankeny abortion center.”

Sue Thayer, a former Planned Parenthood abortion worker who is now pro-life following 17 years working in the now-closed Storm Lake Planned Parenthood of the Heartland abortion center as its clinic manager, celebrated the closings, saying, “Praise God! Now even more Iowa babies will be saved.”

Randy Horn, who serves on the Board of Directors for Iowa Right to Life and is the Chapter Leader for Heart of Iowa Pro-Life, and his wife Sharon have led multiple 40 Days For Life prayer vigils outside of two Planned Parenthood clinics. When he learned of the July closure in Newton, Horn humbly responded, “When in doubt, pray harder. That’s what we did.  That is what we will keep doing.”

Bowen says, with the closure of these two Planned Parenthood of the Heartland centers, 18 facilities remain in Iowa with 11 that do abortions and seven that refer for abortions.

“Additionally, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland has publicly stated that they wish to expand into 5 more Iowa cities–all of which have community colleges,” she said. “Without the proposed expansion, Iowa already has more abortion centers than all of our surrounding states combined.”

“Many of these abortion clinics are offering webcam abortions,” Bowen added. “Since 2008, Iowa has been the test pilot set for webcam abortions. In these RU-486 chemical abortions, a doctor visits with the young woman only through a webcam–they are not physically present. The doctor does not physically examine the patient, nor are they present to monitor adverse reactions. RU-486 abortions take longer and are bloodier than a surgical abortion. These chemical abortions are less messy for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and more traumatizing for women, because the women are forced to deal with the blood and the dead baby at home–alone.”

“Iowa Right to Life remains steadfastly committed to seeing Iowa a safe-haven state. A place where the needs of each woman in crisis are met with compassion and love and each unborn Iowan is welcomed into this world,” Bowen concluded.

Planned Parenthood is reportedly trying to find new jobs within Planned Parenthood for the employees at the Newton location, but two people may be without jobs following the closures.