Local pro-life advocates in Waco, Texas are rejoicing today because the nation’s biggest abortion business has pulled the plug on its abortion center in this central Texas city.
“After 20 years and nearly 19,000 preborn babies lost to abortion, Planned Parenthood Waco is officially out of the abortion business,” John Pisciotta, Director of Pro-Life Waco,told LifeNews today.
He said Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas has relinquished its Texas abortion license for Waco.
“After months of intense controversy in Waco, Planned Parenthood began its abortion business in January of 1994. At the time, Planned Parenthood in Waco was an independent affiliate of Parent to Federation of America. In 2012, Planned Parenthood Waco was absorbed into Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas,” Pisciotta explained.
Pro-Life Waco and other organizations have vigorously challenged Planned Parenthood for abortions and other programs for two decades and the pro-life advocate told LifeNews that hundreds of pro-life people have prayed in front of the abortion clinic over the years and offered help to women to keep their babies instead of having an abortion.
Pisciotta said that, for the first 18 years of its existence, Planned Parenthood did abortions at its facility at 1917 Columbus Ave. The Columbus facility was shut down in December, 2011 and abortions were shifted to the clinic at 1121 Ross Avenue. Sidewalk counselors observed the suspension of abortions at Ross Avenue in August 2013 and, last October, Planned Parenthood Waco acknowledged the suspension, explaining that they were temporarily without an abortion practitioner.
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He told LifeNews that Planned Parenthood retained its license with the hopes of getting a replacement abortion practitioner. However, the list of licensed abortion facilities obtained by the Austin-based Texas Alliance for Life on September 18 shows that Planned Parenthood has relinquished its abortion license for Waco.
“The labor of love for babies and moms bore fruit over two decades, but this is an answer to our prayers,” he said. “Wacoans can now say they live in a city without the intentional shedding of innocent blood.”
Texas Alliance for Life executive director Joe Pojman added, “We are pleased that our Texas laws designed to protect the health and safety of women at abortion facilities are working. Planned Parenthood Waco has ceased performing abortions rather than meet the requirements of the sonogram law, the admitting privileges rule, and the safety standards of ambulatory surgical centers.”
Planned Parenthood will still operate a family planning clinic that makes abortion referrals.
