Minnesota pro-lifers protest at 'express' Planned Parenthood clinic

Published: 2006-06-26

WOODBURY, Minn. (CNS) -- Although abortions will not take place there, a Planned Parenthood Express Care clinic in Woodbury that provides abortion counseling and other services has drawn protests from pro-lifers since it opened in early June. Pro-lifers were expected to continue the protests because their main concern is the clinic makes it easy for minors to obtain birth control without parental permission, said Brian Gibson, executive director of Pro-Life Action Ministries. The availability of the morning-after pill and abortion counseling are other concerns. Gibson said the daily presence at the clinic to provide information about Planned Parenthood and raise public awareness would continue "as long as it's needed," with organizers hoping the clinic will close. The clinic, called PLAN, is the first of its kind in Minnesota. Unlike other Planned Parenthood clinics in the state, this one will not provide abortions, but like those other clinics, it offers contraception, the morning-after pill, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and referrals. Several types of contraception provided at the clinic can act as abortifacients.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .