NewsWest 9
WEST TEXAS - Two of West Texas' Planned Parenthood health centers have closed within a week of one another. A note was posted on the door of the San Angelo facility telling people that it was shutting down in two days.
According to officials, Planned Parenthood of West Texas served more than 3,000 patients last year. When the Midland facility was said to be shutting down in mid August, the Planned Parenthood Trust of South Texas was set to manage San Angelo's health center.
But the San Antonio based office said in a statement, "We are deeply disappointed that after further evaluation we have determined that we will not be in a position to keep the San Angelo health center open and Planned Parenthood of West Texas will stop patient services at the end of the week."
It goes on to state that they are proud that more than 50 of their health centers are still open in the state, "against every obstacle put in our path," and that they hope to find their way back to serving the communities in West Texas.
The Midland center provided surgical abortions while the San Angelo center gave out pills for the same purpose. But NewsWest 9 has received many comments on Facebook about how Planned Parenthood is an important option for people for a range of services that don't involve abortion. That's especially true for people with low income.
"Even though some good is done at that place, the evil done at Planned Parenthood- killing the unborn- far outweighs any good that would have been done at that center," Bishop Michael Pfeifer of San Angelo, said.
He says there are alternative facilities for cheap testing and health support.
"We have three Life Centers that are providing medical help, assistance already for women. One is in Midland, one Odessa, one in Andrews," he explained.
The San Angelo Bishop will be traveling to the Basin on Friday to hold a Rosary. He's led prayers outside the center every week, even several times a week, for the past several years.
"We have been asking and asking the Lord for this favor...also to ask forgiveness for the precious little ones, all the thousands and thousands that have been killed, destroyed to abortion," he said.
Pro-life advocates will gather for prayers at the Midland facility on Friday afternoon- this time to give thanks- for the center shutting down. The Bishop also says he's going to address ways he has mapped out to help women in the Midland-Odessa area. He expects the attendees to be double or triple that of usual.
