A new report released today provides excellent news for the pro-life movement as it shows the number of clinics run by the Planned Parenthood abortion business drop to its lowest figure since Roe v. Wade, the infamous Supreme Court decision that allowed unlimited abortions.
Conducted by American Life League, the latest survey of Planned Parenthood facilities in the United States shows the number of clinics and geographic areas served is the lowest number of clinics for Planned Parenthood since 1973. Ironically, while the Planned Parenthood abortion business is operating few clinics, its level of taxpayer funding has not dropped.
“We do exhaustive research on Planned Parenthood every year,” said Jim Sedlak, vice president at ALL, the nation’s oldest Catholic pro-life group. “This marks the eighth straight year of decline in both total facilities and total affiliates. Meanwhile, taxpayer subsidies remain at record highs under the Obama administration.”
The survey found that Planned Parenthood opened 13 new facilities in 2013 and closed 48. The closures took place in 16 different states. The number of clinics run by the abortion company has fallen from a high of 938 locations in 1995 to 872 facilities in 2005 to 695 today. About half of the locations Planned Parenthood operates either perform surgical abortions or dispense the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug. All Planned Parenthood facilities refer for abortions.
Legislation that prohibits late-term abortions, de-funds Planned Parenthood, subjects abortion clinics to the same health and safety standards as legitimate health centers, or that limits abortions in other way has helped cut the number of Planned Parenthood centers. But Rob Gasper, the ALL senior researcher who conducted the survey, believes other factors are also at work.
“A look at the numbers shows a major period of decline beginning in 2007 and an acceleration in that decline in 2009. Coincidentally, two major efforts began in those two years,” he says. “First, in 2007, 40 Days for Life launched its first national prayer and fasting effort across more than 30 states. In 2009, American Life League started the Bringing Jesus to Planned Parenthood through Mary campaign.”
Last year, a survey conducted by Operation Rescue showed 87 surgical abortion clinics closed in 2013 alone, with 73% of all such clinics having shut down since 1991.
