75,000 square feet, 44 call center stations, 15 exam rooms and much more! It is being built across the free way of the University of Houston. What could it be, you ask yourself? Planned Parenthood is what it is called and 4600 Gulf Freeway is where it is being built. This building will be the largest of its kind in the western hemisphere.

A question that has individuals/groups speaking is why in Houston? Why near a University? Why in such a diverse area? According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 37.4% of Houston’s population was Hispanic and 25.31% African American, 30.8 % Caucasian, 5.5% Asian and 16.9% other races. Informing us that Houston has a huge diversity, in which the minorities hold percentage of most of the population. What does this have to do with abortions? According to Planned Parenthood, last year 8000+ abortions were performed in the Houston region (including 2 Louisiana Clinics), 34% Caucasian, 25% African American and 34% Hispanic. This explains how the demographics and the location of the center are inter-related. Just as well as how it is located in an area in which there is a low income.

“I try not to judge something without taking some time to get to know what is in question.  Granted, I still have a lot to learn, but I have talked to a former Planned Parenthood worker.  Actually, she was not just a former worker for eight years, but a former Planned Parenthood director,” Pro-life Cougar Kristine deMatta said. “From hearing her testimony, as well as those of many others, I am appalled at some of the procedures the workers follow when dealing with a pregnant woman.”

”I feel that Planned Parenthood actively seeks to benefit greatly from the university campus.  Though they may be “helping” the community, there is no question that there is a great profit to be made from being by a campus,” de Matta said.

This facility will not only affect the neighborhoods around it but as well as the University of Houston. Pro-Life Cougars, a group of UH students in which have a desire to help women and children by speaking out against abortion. Their number one priority is to help those affected by or in danger of abortion through diaper drives, fundraisers, and offer help to those in need. They also have support from several pro-life groups around the city, including Houston Coalition for Life and Texas Right to Life.

As the students get affected, so does the community, Rev. Salvatore F. De George from St. Patrick Catholic Church shares his views on how when the subject of abortion was private and how the church should also focus on other types of life taking experiences. De George said that during his 43 years as priest, he has seen a change in the Abortion topic, before it was more private, today it is more public, at the point that a lot of young people became familiarized with it making it part of their culture.

He explained that the Catholic Church’s position is to protect life, not only in the abortion topic, but also on the unjust wars and death row. Actually he said that he totally disagrees on the fact Bishops in the United States are more concerned with Abortion, and forgetting other topics such as healthcare, care for the elder, wars and the death penalty.

“It’s not bad that they care about abortion, but they should push on the other topics too, the Catholic Church should protect life, the lives of everyone,” De George said.

Although, the Planned Parenthood building is at a close proximity to a public university, some female students do not see it as a threat.

Communications sophomore, Paulette Vargas, is Pro-Choice says, “I understand some girls might seek the close Planned Parenthood location for help, but I feel like some people will do anything to go through the procedure.” Vargas also says,” As a college student, I feel it wont affect this campus, as much as it will to the city as a whole.”

Passed in 1976, the Hyde Amendment was to exclude abortion from the comprehensive health care services that were provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid. In the United States, only seventeen of them fund it.

*Some websites we gathered info from:

www.houstontx.gov/planning/Demographics/dem_links.htm

www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/breaking/6821521.html

Http://aclu.org/reproductive-freedom/public-funding-abortion

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