Respect Life Month

Catholic-based Women’s Care Center plans to build next to Planned Parenthood in Indianapolis

Criterion staff report

Women’s Care Center, a Catholic network of pregnancy centers, plans to build a new facility on a lot bordering the north property line of the Planned Parenthood facility at the corner of 86th St. and Georgetown Road in Indianapolis.

According to Ann Manion, president for Women’s Care Centers in St. Joseph County, Ind., groundbreaking is planned for the spring of 2014, with completion scheduled for the fall of that same year. These dates are based on the progress of a capital campaign specific to the opening of this facility.

“We’ve been blessed that a benefactor from Fort Wayne stepped up and bought the land right there on the corner [next to the Planned Parenthood facility],” said Manion of the land acquisition.

The Planned Parenthood center at that location is the state’s largest abortion provider.

“More abortions take place at that facility than the other 91 counties combined,” said Manion.

“There is a real impact that happens when you are next door and are highly visible. We’ve found with [our other facilities] that whenever you locate a loving presence next to an abortion facility, it provides an option. Women come, hearts are touched, and baby’s lives are saved.”

Since a Women’s Care Center opened in Milwaukee, Wis., in 2010, abortions have decreased 23 percent in that city, Minion noted.

Like many of the 22 Women’s Care Centers located throughout seven states, the one in Indianapolis will offer full-time ultrasounds, counseling, pregnancy testing, self-sufficiency training, parenting and educational programs—all at no cost.

It will also have an incentive-based baby store—called Crib Club—where women can earn new car seats, cribs, diapers, clothing and other baby items.
 

(For more information on Women’s Care Centers, log on to www.womenscarecenterfoundation.org. To make a donation to the campaign for the Indianapolis facility, contact Bobby Williams 574-968-7475, or by e-mail at WomensCareCenterFoundation@att.net. Donations can also be mailed to Women’s Care Center, P.O. Box 40127, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Make checks payable to Women’s Care Center. All donations are applied 100 percent toward building the center in Indianapolis.) †