New Planned Parenthood Center Sparks Controversy With Church
By Mark Guillory
At 78,000 sq. ft., the new Planned Parenthood Center in construction off the Gulf Freeway in Houston is soon to be considered the largest in the world today. The health center will reside on the site of the former Sterling Bank building at 4600 Gulf Freeway near the entrance to the University of Houston.
Planned Parenthood Centers are often the subject of controversy because of some of the services they offer at their clinics. The new center will have the medical facilities to provide late term abortions safely.
Coincidentally, less than three miles away from the new Plan Parenthood Center is the Catholic Charismatic Center located on 1949 Cullen Blvd. Religious organizations as such have been some of the most outspoken advocates against Planned Parenthood Centers.
Despite being separated by fewer than three miles, the two centers, both focused on serving people, could not have more conflicting views. Their methods for assisting their patrons are exceedingly opposite despite their passion for similar goals.
Even though the new center has yet to open, it is already in the cross hairs of religious organizations who wish to stop the new center from being built. Volunteers from the Catholic Charismatic Center show their dissatisfaction for the new center by praying on the sidewalk.
Outside on the sidewalk a family of four walks back and forth with their rosaries to express their opposition to the building of the new Planned Parenthood Center.
Phocion Park Jr., his wife Cheryl Park, and their two sons Phocion III and Louis have volunteered to do an hour a week in participation of the 40 Days of Life. The 40 Days of Life is an international movement to stop abortion with prayer.
“At least 160 people from the Catholic Charismatic Center signed up for one hour a week, Monday to Saturday from 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.,” Phocion Park Jr. said.
Putting an end to abortion is important to the whole Park family as they are all willing to give up their time for the cause.
The Parks cite Deacon Carlos Martins as the primary organizer of the protest at the Catholic Charismatic Center regarding the new Planned Parenthood Center. Martins is a member of the Companions of the Cross religious order and a stark pro-life advocate. Martins, however, does not consider what they do as a protest.
“We are not protesting,” Martins said. “We are praying. A protest is a reaction against something. We are a movement towards something ... the God of Life.
“Abortion is the greatest holocaust ever: one out of every three babies conceived in the USA is murdered.”
In spite of Martins’ and others’ passionate stance on abortion, Planned Parenthood centers continue to open and grow. Nevertheless, Martins remains faithful that their movement of faith and prayer is the only way to end abortion.
“Since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision over 50 million babies have been aborted in the United States,” Martins said. “That translates into approximately 1/3 of all babies conceived. Only God can put a stop to evil this big and powerful.”
On the other side of the fence, Planned Parenthood proponents feel that abortions often overshadow all of the other services the health centers provide. Planned Parenthood Centers offer a full range of healthcare services for women; abortions are just a small part of their services and, even then, not available at most of their centers.
“We provide annual well-woman exams, family planning information, a variety of birth control options, breast exams, cervical cancer screenings (Pap tests), diagnosis and treatment for abnormal Pap tests, vasectomies, screening, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV testing and prevention counseling, sex education for parents, young people and professionals, and advocacy for access to affordable reproductive health care service,” said Rochelle Tafolla, vice president of Communications & Marketing Planned Parenthood.
On the other hand, Tafolla does not deny that they do provide abortion services for those who are eligible.
“Providing safe and compassionate abortion care is important to the Planned Parenthood mission and it is provided by Planned Parenthood of Southeast Texas Surgical and Comprehensive Services, which is a separate corporation related to Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas,” Tafolla said. “Through all of the preventive health services provided by PPHSET, we do more to prevent unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion than any other organization.”
Although protestors would like to see an end to Planned Parenthood Centers, Tafolla sees nothing wrong with the process. She understands that everyone has a different opinion on the subject and she respects their views.
“Planned Parenthood firmly believes in the First Amendment and the right to free speech.” Tafolla said. “We understand that many people have differing views and opinions of the services we provide, including birth control and abortion. The protesters outside of our health centers have a right to voice their opinions and we defend that right. However, we firmly believe the women and men who are coming to Planned Parenthood should be able to access services freely and should not be subjected to verbal and visual harassment.”
