New reports released by pro-life groups show that abortion clinic closures outpaced newly opened facilities in 2017.
“In all, 49 abortion facilities — 35 surgical and 14 medication only clinics — closed or halted abortion services,” writes Cheryl Sullenger of Operation Rescue. “Only eight new surgical abortion facilities were opened, along with 11 new medication abortion facilities.”
As 2017 comes to a close, 704 abortion facilities are open in the country, Sullenger reports.
“Of these, 490 offer surgical abortions, often along with medication abortions,” she explains. “There are 214 facilities that offer only medication abortions.”
“We rejoice that the abortion cartel is imploding and closing down,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “We are making progress. But they are not going down without a fight. We continue to work and pray that we will soon see an end to abortion in our nation.”
America Life League’s (ALL) annual report also shows Planned Parenthood closed 32 clinics in 2017. According to this report, the nation’s largest provider of abortions operates some 49 percent of abortion facilities in the United States. About 60 percent (356) of Planned Parenthood’s 597 facilities perform medical or surgical abortions, says the report.
“The continuing decline of Planned Parenthood facilities belies its public relations hype,” said Jim Sedlak, ALL’s Executive Director. “The evidence is clear: The American people are fed up with Planned Parenthood. The revelations about its business model and its callous disregard for the lives of human beings are taking their toll on the organization’s acceptance.”
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a formal investigation into Planned Parenthood over its alleged sale of the body parts of babies aborted in its clinics for a profit.
However, pro-life leaders expect Planned Parenthood will continue to fight hard to protect the political clout it has gained over the years.
“While the numbers continue to show an organization in decline, we do not expect it to go quietly into the night,” Sedlak said. “We expect that Planned Parenthood’s leaders, along with its bought-and-paid-for politicians, will continue to spread the lies and demand the American people pay tribute to this satanic organization. But, in the end, it will lose.”
Similarly, Peter Wolfgang, Executive Director of Family Institute of Connecticut, says the continued decline in the number of abortion clinics nationwide is good news.
“Here in Connecticut, pro-abortion lobbyists responded to the fact that pro-life centers now outnumber abortion clinics,” he said, “by using their enormous political power to make the City of Hartford pass an ordinance targeting one pro-life center, forcing the center to post a sign to dissuade women from taking its help.”
“The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a similar law from California and we hope it will rule in favor of free speech for all pro-lifers,” Wolfgang added. “In the meantime, we will defend pro-life centers against pro-abortionists who are enraged at the decline of their business and hell-bent on taking out the competition.”