Planned Parenthood to Open Charleston, South Carolina Abortion Ctr in 2008
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 10, 2008
Charleston, SC (LifeNews.com) — Planned Parenthood officials in South Carolina are looking to open a new abortion business in Charleston next year. The abortion center would come after years of declining abortion numbers in the state and a new law requiring abortion practitioners to allow women to see an ultrasound of the unborn child.
Planned Parenthood Health Systems, which covers South Carolina, is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it recently listed the proposal for the new abortion business on its web site.
"Recognizing the enormous need for our preventive services in coastal South Carolina, we identified Charleston as a priority area for a Planned Parenthood Health Center," it said.
"Eighteen months ago we launched a $1.2 million capital campaign; to date we have secured $510,000 towards that goal," it said.
According to the PPHSI 2007 annual report, donations to help open the Charleston abortion center, which will be located at 200 Rutledge Avenue include $175,000 from the Coastal Community Foundation, and $25,000 or more from the Lowcountry Committee of 100 and couples Gillian and Peter Roy, Marie and Peter Hummel, and Carol and Leo Fishman.
Jim Sedlak of Stopp International tells LifeNews.com that local pro-life advocates are organizing to oppose the new abortion facility.
"Planned Parenthood is currently saying that it will have the new abortion facility
open by the end of 2008," he said. "However, the local pro-life community is
gearing up for a major effort against it."
Abortion business officials acknowledged they’re preparing for opposition from local residents and pro-life advocates.
"Although we are always alert to organized challenges to our efforts, we have successfully cultivated the support of many community movers and shakers, public health officials and faith leaders," it said.
News of the new Charleston abortion center comes after Gov. Mark Sanford signed a bill into law that allows women a chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn child before the abortion.
When used in pregnancy centers, such ultrasounds persuade as many as 70-80 percent of women to keep their baby rather than follow through with an abortion.
Pro-life groups and lawmakers have also approved other pieces of pro-life legislation over the years that have consistently driven down the number of abortions there.
