The contractor of a $4.2 million Planned Parenthood facility is willing to tear up the contract if a New Orleans area pastor pays him $20,000.
According to Pastor Bill Shanks, Melvin Backes, the contractor admitted to him that they were only building the facility because of money, LifeNews reports.
"[Melvin] told me that this [order] is just money, [and that] 'If you give me $20,000, I'll tear up the contract," he said.
Shanks claimed that Linda, Melvin's wife said that she was for Planned Parenthood and for adoption.
The Planned Parenthood facility was expected to open by the end of 2004 but opposition from pro-lifers continues.
Planned Parenthood promotes the use of birth control pills and abortion as a safe way to end pregnancy, and is frequently the target of pro-life protests.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans is among those speaking out against the planned facility.
"We cannot be silent in view of the grave injustice presented by the abortions that will be performed at the proposed Planned Parenthood facility," he said in an open letter.
"The archdiocese is obliged to remind every person and organisation involved in the acquisition, preparation and construction of this or any abortion facility that they are cooperating with the evil that will take place there."
Last February, Planned Parenthood appealed the decision by Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) to refuse its application to perform abortions in the state of New Orleans. The DHH said that Planned Parenthood "failed to establish the probability of serious, adverse consequences to recipients' ability to access outpatient abortion services," or substantiate its position that there was a need for another abortion facility in Louisiana as there are already five in operation in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Metairie, Shreveport and Bossier City.
In their original application to the DHH, Planned Parenthood submitted a 74-page document claiming that the current facilities were not accessible to the women of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Terrebone, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. John, St. Tammany, St. Mary and Washington. It claimed that the New Orleans area needed 2,844 new abortions every year.
"Over the past few years Planned Parenthood has avoided almost all mention of abortion when discussing its new facility currently planned for Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. They have focused instead on the need for women's healthcare. Now, in a shockingly blunt and business-like manner, Planned Parenthood is making a case to the state of Louisiana that the New Orleans area needs 2,844 new abortions every year, and that Planned Parenthood is the business to sell those abortions," said Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life, and one of the primary opponents of the Planned Parenthood facility.
He added, "What our city needs is more peace and more authentic healthcare, not a mega-facility to sell abortion to our citizens."
Construction has resumed but pro-lifers have vowed to continue their protests.
