Sep 5, 2007 / 11:06 am
Pro-life advocates are calling on the city of Aurora to launch an official investigation into the application process for the construction of a multi-floor building, revealed to be a new abortion facility.
The pro-life advocates discovered that Planned Parenthood had concealed its ownership of the new building, set to open soon in the Chicago suburb. Planned Parenthood officials admitted they concealed ownership to avoid opposition to the construction, reported WorldNetDaily.com.
About 1,200 pro-life advocates assembled over the Aug. 27-28 weekend to protest the structure that had initially been described in the permit application as an office building. The project was proposed to the city by Gemini Office Development.
Alderman Richard Irvin was among the protesters. He was not on the board when the project was approved, but says he is concerned that the building was brought into the city under false pretenses. The municipality could sue Planned Parenthood for being deceptive, he said.
The permit application for the construction did not indicate that the building was to be an abortion facility. However, it was revealed as such after a pro-life construction worker on the 22,000-square-foot site became suspicious of the bulletproof glass and surgical suites, reported WorldNetDaily.com.
Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, said the deception was likely motivated by another Planned Parenthood construction project in Austin, Texas, which was delayed for months because contractors refused to work on the project.
Newman said Planned Parenthood recently practiced the same deception in Denver, where it purchased a building without announcing its presence.
Cheryl Sullenger, also of Operation Rescue, said community residents have legitimate concerns when a Planned Parenthood facility decides to move in.
"They're concerned about …what their children are going to be taught as far as sex education. They don't want their daughters getting abortions without their knowledge, and in some states Planned Parenthood is famous for promoting that," she said.
Prayer vigils already have begun at the site. "This is not just a local abortion clinic; this is regional headquarters," Eric Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League told the Chicago Tribune. "We want the city of Aurora to see clear as day that Aurora does not want Planned Parenthood as a neighbor."
Scheidler noted that another abortion clinic was shut down in Aurora just last year.