New Orleans Archbishop Vows to Boycott Businesses Involved in New Planned Parenthood Facility

The archbishop of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans has announced that his archdiocese will use its resources to boycott businesses involved in the “acquisition, preparation, and construction” of a new Planned Parenthood abortion facility in the city.

In the Clarion Herald, the official newspaper of the archdiocese of New Orleans, Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond wrote, “It has been the consistent teaching of the Catholic Church since the first century that abortion is a grave evil.”

“We cannot be silent in view of the grave injustice presented by the abortions that will be performed at the proposed Planned Parenthood facility,” Aymond wrote. “The archdiocese is obliged to remind every person and organization 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.”

Aymond further asserted:

For this reason, the archdiocese, including its churches, schools, apartments for the elderly and nursing homes, will strive in its privately funded work not to enter into business relationships with any person or organization that participates in actions that are essential to making this abortion facility a reality.

As CNS News reports, construction of the $4.2 million, 8,000-square foot Planned Parenthood facility, located at 4636 South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans, will begin this year with plans to open the facility sometime later this year. The city approved the construction permit in December.

Archbishop Aymond said information he learned from abortion industry experts advised that “Planned Parenthood could perform upwards of thirty (30) abortions per day” in the new facility.

Aymond added that his boycott policy applies to all businesses, regardless of religious affiliation or non-affiliation.

“Our fidelity to Church teaching and our conscience necessitates this stance,” he wrote. “There is no justification, including economic hardship that will make a direct or indirect relationship with Planned Parenthood, or any abortion provider, acceptable.”