Pro-Life Advocates Celebrate Planned Parenthood’s Closure of Louisiana Clinics

Pro-Life Advocates Celebrate Planned Parenthood’s Closure of Louisiana Clinics

EXCLUSIVE: Planned Parenthood is preparing to close its final two facilities in Louisiana next month. Pro-life advocates consider this development a significant achievement in their ongoing efforts to dismantle the organization.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, the CEO and founder of 40 Days for Life, Shawn Carney, expressed that the closure of these clinics represents a “huge victory” for the pro-life movement. This organization has led prayers and vigils outside Planned Parenthood facilities for nearly two decades.

Carney remarked, “The only remaining Planned Parenthood clinics in Louisiana, located in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, are shutting down because they are unable to perform abortions there. Planned Parenthood relies financially on these procedures and taxpayer support. This closure is a significant success for pro-life advocates.”

Beginning September 30, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, which operates several clinics in Texas and Louisiana, will close its Baton Rouge and New Orleans locations.

Previously, Planned Parenthood announced the closure of other facilities, including two centers in Houston, Texas. One of those locations was reported to be the largest abortion facility in the Western Hemisphere. The remaining Houston facilities will transition to ownership under the largest Texas affiliate of the organization.

Melaney Linton, President of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, stated that the closures in Louisiana are a direct result of relentless political assaults against the organization.

Linton commented, “This is not a decision we wanted to make; it is one we were forced into by political warfare. Anti-reproductive health lawmakers obsessed with power and control have spent decades fighting the concept that individuals should be able to control their own bodies.”

In her statement, Linton highlighted the damaging impact of Republican legislators, describing them as “extremists” determined to defund Planned Parenthood. She emphasized the consequences of their actions, stating, “Every health center closure, every patient who goes without care, every undetected cancer, and every untreated infection rests of those lawmakers’ hands.”

The recent closures are also a consequence of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which allowed states to implement their own abortion laws. Many facilities in states governed by Republicans, including Louisiana and Texas, have halted abortion procedures in compliance with new restrictions.

GOP officials have exerted continuous pressure to shut down Planned Parenthood. Their efforts escalated following the nearly complete ban on abortions in Louisiana and Texas, along with other Republican-led states.

Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry celebrated the closures on social media, branding them a “major win for the pro-life movement” in Louisiana. He emphasized his commitment to eliminating what he labeled a “failed organization” and reiterated that abortion “should NEVER be considered healthcare.”

Louisiana’s Attorney General, also a Republican, welcomed the news regarding the Planned Parenthood closures.

She stated, “Planned Parenthood built its business around promoting death. Louisiana chooses life. We will always protect women and babies.”

Despite Planned Parenthood’s inability to perform abortion procedures in Louisiana, the organization has facilitated access to out-of-state abortions for women in need.

Recent closures of Planned Parenthood facilities are part of a broader trend seen nationwide, where the organization has been forced to shut down locations in diverse states, including California and New York. This includes the sale of its only Manhattan health center building for a staggering $39 million.

Carney noted that the Baton Rouge and New Orleans closures will mark the 40th Planned Parenthood to close by the end of 2025. He anticipates that prior to September 30, between 25 and 30 additional closures may occur.

The Trump administration previously sought to slash funding for Planned Parenthood, a move that could contribute to further facilities shutting down. A provision included in a GOP-supported spending bill aims to halt Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers that received in excess of $800,000 in funding during 2023. However, this provision is currently facing legal challenges and has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

Carney remarked, “Planned Parenthood is facing the most challenging period in its history. They were in dire straits even before the overturning of Roe v. Wade and subsequent funding cuts.”

He predicted that future mergers among Planned Parenthood affiliates will continue, as evidenced by the impending consolidation involving Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. Former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate, Abby Johnson, has echoed a similar prediction in discussions with Fox News Digital.

Carney explained, “Organizations like Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast will likely merge with other affiliates with whom they previously competed for abortion services. I foresee these closures leading to reductions in operations across the country, resulting in significant consolidation within the organization.”

He added, “If these organizations are non-profits, they should seek alternative funding through traditional means, much like other non-profits and churches do. If individuals believe in their mission, they will support it. Relying on federal funding is not sustainable and has become increasingly evident.”

Carney pointed out that Planned Parenthood lost approximately 78,000 individual donors in the previous year, highlighting the precarious state of their funding streams.

Addressing the claim made by Planned Parenthood that abortions constitute only 3% of the services they offer, Carney refuted this assertion, calling it “complete nonsense.” He referenced the recent closures of facilities in Republican-controlled regions where abortion services have been banned.

He stated, “It’s akin to McDonald’s claiming that only 3% of their business comes from selling french fries. If that were indeed the case, they wouldn’t be shutting down numerous facilities in pro-life states where abortions are restricted. This narrative seems increasingly improbable as we enter 2025.”

In summary, the closure of Planned Parenthood facilities in Louisiana marks a pivotal moment for pro-life advocates. While the organization faces significant challenges ahead, it remains to be seen how the ongoing political landscape will affect reproductive health services across the nation.