Affiliated Women’s Services abortion center closes its doors

Criterion staff report

Calling it a “great victory,” Right to Life of Indianapolis president Marc Tuttle announced the closing of one of Indianapolis’ four abortion centers.

Tuttle made the announcement in a July 9 newsletter distributed by the organization.

“After 32 years of destroying human life, Affiliated Women’s Services (AWS), which was located near the Indianapolis International Airport, closed amidst financial difficulties,” the announcement noted.

“Notorious late-term abortionist Dr. LeRoy Carhart flew to Indianapolis from Nebraska to commit abortions twice a month at AWS.

“Dr. Carhart, the primary abortionist for AWS for the last several years, is known for taking a suit to the Supreme Court to challenge the federal law abolishing partial-birth abortion.

“The closure is a great victory for not only the pro-life volunteers who spent hours each week praying in front of Affiliated Women’s Services, counseling women and offering them life-saving alternatives, but it is also a victory for the unborn children who will no longer be aborted by Dr. Carhart.”

Tuttle stated that one possible contributing factor to the closing of AWS could be a new requirement that took effect on July 1, mandating abortion centers to find a physician at a local hospital who would serve as a backup if a woman suffered severe complications during an abortion.

Patty Arthur, parish secretary and pro-life coordinator for St. Joseph Parish in Indianapolis, spoke of the parishioners’ prayerful involvement over the years in the closing of Affiliated Women’s Services, which was located within the parish boundaries.

“For years, St. Joseph parishioners have prayed the rosary before weekend Masses for the closing of Affiliated Women’s Services,” she wrote in an e-mail. “Through these rosaries, along with the prayer warriors and sidewalk counselors onsite at the extermination center, this closing is finally a reality.”

On July 4, Dolores Tucker, executive director of the ecumenical pro-life organization Truth and Compassion Ministries that provided prayers and sidewalk counselors outside of the clinic, released a statement reacting to the closing of Affiliated Women’s Services.

“For decades, sidewalk counselors met to pray for God’s intervention, and to offer women alternatives as AWS herded women through its doors,” read the statement.

“Over the years, the number of women began to steadily decline as sidewalk counselors continued to meet there to minister.

“In time, AWS began to have only two abortion days a month. Within the past year, a ‘For Sale’ sign appeared in front of the abortion clinic.”

In the statement, Tucker also called for God’s mercy for the owner and staff of the abortion center.

“We pray for spiritual freedom for the owner and staff of Affiliated Women’s Services. We pray for God’s mercy—for who of us has not needed mercy? We pray that they will experience remorse for their roles in the slaughter of countless babies, and that they experience the forgiveness of Christ and be blessed to defend life and speak of God’s mercy.

“We rejoice that Indiana has one less abortion clinic.” †