Aurora, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates made their voices heard outside the new Planned Parenthood abortion center that opened in Aurora on Tuesday. Hundreds joined in protest and prayer and pledged to continue fighting the city's decision allowing it to open despite potentially violating city codes during the approval process by hiding its identity.

Holding red roses and signs such as "Planned Parenthood: Bad for Aurora" they gathered on Tuesday to be a witness to the handful of women headed there.

Steve Trombley, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area, said some women were expected to go to the abortion business Tuesday but more are expected later in the week.

He told the Associated Press he had no apologies for keeping Planned Parenthood's identity a secret from city officials.

"We have no regrets about how we went about this process," he said. "We kept it private from our opponents, and we did it for good reason."

Lucie Groleske of Aurora was one of the people at the protest Tuesday outside the center and talked with AP about her views on it opening.

"In this age when people are trying to 'go green' and recycle, recycle, recycle, yet people are throwing away the most valuable resource on this planet -- a human being," she said.

Fran Fortier, director of the Life Office for the Diocese of Joliet, said she was upset by the city's decision to allow Planned Parenthood to open.

“Of course we are totally disappointed in the decision that was made," she said.

But she added pro-life advocates would continue their efforts to "to pray, educate, effect pro-life legislation, nurse the sick, handicapped, elderly, and dying, from conception to natural death.”

Meanwhile, the national Planned Parenthood applauded its local affiliate for opening the new abortion business.

"We are Planned Parenthood. Standing together, we sent a message that we will fight for access to reproductive health care for women in Aurora and for women everywhere," Cecile Richards, the president of PPFA, said in a statement to the pro-abortion group's membership.

"I expect fights like this for other health centers around the country in the months ahead," she added.