Date:
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
by Steven Ertelt | LifeNews.com | 10/7/14 12:27 PM
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.
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