Those of us who joined the fight in the Texas state legislature at the Capitol last summer to support the House Bill 2 Omnibus Pro-Life Bill were elated when HB2 passed with a safe margin despite the shrill outcry and drama exhibited by pro-abortion zealots inside and outside the state Senate chambers. The state of Texas made a bold statement to the rest of the nation and the world that the people of Texas would continue to stand up and fight to protect the sanctity of unborn life and the health and safety of their mothers.

The abortion industry lobby quickly mobilized their legal team to undermine the pro-life restrictions which will safeguard the health of abortion-bound women and protect the lives of unborn children who’ve reached the stage of viability, where science has found clear evidence these twenty week and older unborn babies feel pain.

A legal decision by U.S. District Court Judge Lee Yeakel in Austin last October blocked some major restrictions in the new pro-life statutes, but, late last month, the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals overturned Yeakel’s decision and allowed the new abortion restrictions enacted by the Texas House last year to proceed.

During the court proceedings at the 5th District Court, Planned Parenthood admitted that at least 210 women who completed their abortions in Texas are hospitalized due to complications. It appears likely that the pro-abortion lobby will continue their legal fight to thwart the will of the people of Texas by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

President and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Texas, Jeffrey Hons, intends to open an upgraded $5 million Planned Parenthood abortion facility in San Antonio to comply with the new state law. All abortion facilities must comply by next September with the regulations that require these places to meet state ambulatory surgical service standards as well as other new restrictions on their business.

Mr. Hons told the Express News last week that most of Planned Parenthood’s clients seek non-abortion services such as pap smears and breast exams. This statement belies the fact evidenced by extensive investigations by Live Action that Planned Parenthood facilities are not providing these services but rather refer visitors to other offices that offer cancer screening and Planned Parenthood is notorious for double counting visitors who return regularly for birth control and other services.

If Planned Parenthood South Texas services “just a very small number” of abortion-bound women, why is he spending $5,000,000 to upgrade his facilities? He will not need to make such an investment if he stops doing abortions at his Babcock facility. We can surmise that abortion is a lucrative and profitable business for Mr. Hons and other abortion providers in Texas.

What’s next? How do we respond to recent pro-life successes in Texas and continue the fight against the abortion industry in Texas?

Pope Francis spoke eloquently in his recent exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, calling attention to the widespread acceptance of legalized abortion:

“Among the vulnerable for whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenseless and innocent among us. Nowadays efforts are made to deny them their human dignity and to do with them whatever one pleases, taking their lives and passing laws preventing anyone from standing in the way of this.”

As Christians, let us all continue to pray fervently for the end of legalized abortion in our nation and for our state of Texas, especially in San Antonio, where the fighting spirit of the Alamo remains strong in our hearts and minds. May Texas continue to be a shining beacon to the rest of the country for our stalwart defense of life and our religious liberties.

Let us also commit to putting our faith into action by actively being involved in the pro-life movement in San Antonio through our support for Allied Women’s Crisis Pregnancy Center and participation in the 40 Days for Life prayer campaigns, sidewalk prayer and counseling abortion bound women in front of Planned Parenthood, Whole Women’s Health, and other abortion centers in the city.

For more information about how you can become actively involved in pro-life prayer and action in San Antonio, contact:

Allied Women’s Center, Crisis Pregnancy counseling, services
210-354-4357
San Antonio Coalition for Life, Sidewalk counseling, 40 Days for Life campaigns
210-737-2235
St. Joan of Arc Brigade, Pro-Life Prayer Vigils on Saturdays, pro-life prayer missions
210-771-5757

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