AURORA, September 21, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A federal judge yesterday struck down a motion by Planned Parenthood to force the opening of their newly-built abortion clinic in Aurora, Illinois against the will of city officials.The clinic, which was built under a building permit that concealed the name of Planned Parenthood from the city, has been prohibited from opening while officials investigate charges of fraud. Thousands of Aurora citizens have protested the opening, and the issue has attracted national attention.
"This decision today demonstrates the tremendous power of prayer," said Eric Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League, which has led massive protests against the clinic. "The prayers of the faithful people who have been in front of this clinic night and day and the thousands who have been praying around the country, have been answered. We know this battle in Aurora is not over and we will continue to protest Planned Parenthood's deceptions. This delay will save the lives of innocent children."
LifeSiteNews asked Scheidler how long he expected to delay the clinic's opening. "At this point, I'm really leaving it up to God because I'm just blown away at what we've been able to accomplish here," he said. "I wouldn't put anything past Him. I think it's possible that we'll shut this down altogether. I'm not counting on anything, and I'm not going to stop fighting as hard as I can."
Scheidler states that he believes that that current legal victory could "last a week, and maybe for good", although he assumes Planned Parenthood will attempt to reverse it.
The ruling will allow officials to proceed with the investigation into Planned Parenthood's allegedly deceptive permit filing, which concealed the true identity of the facilty's occupants by using a front company, Gemini Office Development, and failing to identify the building as an abortion complex (it was called a "health center" on the application). If it opens, the facility will be the largest Planned Parenthood abortion faciltiy in North America. Aurora pro-lifers call the clinic the "Abortion Fortress".In ruling against Planned Parenthood's motion to force the city of Aurora to grant them an operating permit, U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle stated that Planned Parenthood had not proven that the city of Aurora was treating them differently than it had treated other permit filers, but left open the possibility that they might submit such information in a future proceeding. "By no means is this case over. By no means,'' he said.
According to a local television station, Planned Parenthood is already planning an amended filing in an attempt to reverse the ruling. They are also making a mass appeal to their supporters for financial help and volunteers to aid in their fight to open the Aurora facility, stating in their appeal that "we are facing no less than the most emboldened protest by the most radical anti-choice people I've ever encountered". Protests against the clinic have attracted up to 1,500 people at a time.
Read Previous LifeSiteNews.com Coverage:
See Pro-Life Action League's U-Tube video of Aug. 25 demonstration
http://www.prolifeaction.org/
Largest Abortion Center in the U.S. Refused Permission to Open http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/sep/07091709.html
Residents Say Planned Parenthood Lied on Giant Abortion Mill Application - City Investigates
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/aug/07082908.html
Largest Ever Planned Parenthood Abortion Mill Threatens to Open Near Chicago
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/aug/07082209.html
Chicago Planned Parenthood Faces Lawsuit Over Libelous Ad
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/sep/07091103.html
Chicago Pro-Lifers Launch Massive Effort to Stop New Abortion Clinic from Opening - 40 Day Vigil
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/aug/07081801.html
Residents Say Planned Parenthood Lied on Giant Abortion Mill Application - City Investigates
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/aug/07082908.html