Judge rules neighbors can proceed with lawsuit against Aurora Planned Parenthood
In 2007 the Thomas More Society, on behalf of neighbors, sued Planned Parenthood of Chicago and the City of Aurora, the former for violating multiple zoning ordinances when building its Aurora abortion mill under false pretenses and the latter for saying “that’s ok” when PP’s subterfuge was discovered.
TMS added a claim that to this day the City of Aurora continues to refuse to apply the correct zoning ordinance to PP, even after the City admitted its attorneys applied the wrong ordinance to PP in September 2008.
Since 2007 PP/Aurora have filed 3 separate motions to dismiss.
Today there was a huge victory for our side….
DuPage Co. Judge Neal Cerne ruled today that TMS’s zoning case can proceed. The judge denied PP’s latest motion to dismiss and upheld the main count of the suit, that PP willfully violated local zoning and building laws during the development and buildling process of the Aurora mill.
Judge Cerne ordered the defendants to answer TMS’s complaint within the next month.
Now the case gets juicy. TMS attorneys plan to subpoena PP and Aurora officials to testify under oath about the full details of the zoning and development process of the Aurora mill.
Interestingly, PP of Chicago CEO Steve Trombley, the mastermind behind the scam, was recently transferred to head up PP of Northern New England. Recall the now infamous July 2007 Chicago Tribune story that started the mess, when Trombley uttered words he may eat, even if belatedly:
Neighbors who drive by the bustling construction site in Aurora think they are seeing the completion of the “Gemini Health Center,” just as the sign says….
But in a few weeks the sign will be changed to reflect the true owners of the building: Planned Parenthood….
“Frankly, I’m surprised we were able to keep it a secret for so long,” said Steve Trombley, president and chief executive officer of PP/Chicago Area, carefully avoiding a freshly painted wall as he offered a tour of the facility. “We didn’t want anything to interfere with the opening … and, at this point, I don’t anticipate anything will stop that from happening.”
Famous last words? If our side wins, PP will have to close and sell… or demolish the building.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
My mom was elected to local office a couple of years ago and she has to deal with loads of people who violate zoning ordinances. I don’t have any sympathy for people running a benign business in a residential area, so I REALLY don’t have any sympathy for Planned Parenthood of Chicago and the City of Aurora. Rules are rules.
Does anyone know the end game for the suit? A cash settlement? Forcing the child-killing center to move?
I just found it on the TMS website, among other reliefs, they want the building demolished.
That would be so sweet!!!
I would drive over for sure and party with all the local Pro-lifers!
Jill, they should let you drive the bulldozer! You and Joe and Eric could all take turns!
Scary. Steve Trombley even looks likes the devil incarnate. Thank God for some fair, intelligent judges.
OMG!!! Cerne was my daughters soccer coach! I didn’t even know he was a judge.
Please forgive me for diverging, however, I just want to express my deep gratitude for my very courageous Governor Jan Brewer who is standing up to that tower of incompetence in Washington called ObamaPelosiReidNapolitano.
Your so right MamaMT,
When you look at that picture, it sure looks like he’s got some nefarious guests co-habitating his dwelling.
I have a question. Are crisis pregnancy centers federally funded like Planned Parenthood Centers? And if so why haven’t they basically decreased the need for Planned Parenthoods abortion services.
PRAISE GOD FOR THIS ANSWER TO PRAYER PROLIFERS!! THIS IS AWESOME!! We have been praying for this and God answered our prayers for this case not to be dismissed. This is a David vs. Goliath moment. I am so grateful for Thomas More Society, Peter Breen, Eric, Ann and Joe Schiedler and Prolife Action League for taking the stand against PP. God bless all of them and to all the prolifers who prayed for this. Hi Ed and Phil how are you doing my prolife borthers? What great news. I am grateful Judge Cerne took the case on it’s merit.
I can’t express how grateful I am for that news.
I’m one of the plaintiffs. Please keep praying everyone — we are in the right. That building, like the organization using it is built on lies.
Sorry I mispelled meant to say “prolife brothers”.
Myrtle CPCs, at least the one I work with, do not get federal funding. They are not-for-profit organizations that are funded by donations, they are a ministry which offers free, confidential services which includes spiritual counseling as well as pregnancy tests, ultrasounds (usually), medical care or referrals to medical care, baby equipment, baby clothes, maternity clothes, car seats, cribs, some CPCs offer childbirth, parenting, GED and abstinence education also job training may be offered as well. Hope this is helpful. If we took money from the federal govt. they could dictate to us regarding our services and they would restrict our freedom to minister to young women and offer them spiritual counseling (we ask them but never force them to accept spiritual counseling nor do we refuse to give them our assistance or services because they refuse spiritual counseling).
Could be all the Jericho Marches around the abortuary are having an effect. If those walls come tumbling down it will be a testament to God’s presence with us in Aurora.
Hi Ed, and sorry, I just added a tag with what a victory for our side would mean.
Truthseeker, good point!
Posted by: Prolifer L at May 21, 2010 11:25 PM
Why not offer full birth control education which includes abstinence? I realize that there is a religious dimension to what is offered at these centers so I understand that the message is that sex out of wedlock is evil. But if some of these women are married, then they really shouldn’t be forced to abstain? With the exception of a recent and limited study, it has been shown that abstinence education with teens is ineffective. I just think that providing women with all the options will prevent future unwanted pregnancies and future abortions.
Sammi, how on earth could a CPC “force” anyone to abstain?
CPCs don’t always have religious affiliations or offer abstinence education.
they don’t offer birth control because BC fails. Abstinence is best for those young women who choose to keep their babies so they can go to college or get a job and take care of their child(ren) and that way, they don’t end up pregnant again. Then they can reach goals they want to reach.
Plus, birth control has side effects that abstinence does not.
To build on what Marauder said, some CPCs are not religiously affiliated (Birthright being the most prominent example). Most CPCs don’t offer birth control on site, because their focus is on serving women who are already pregnant and their financial resources are limited, but have an ob/gyn referral network that can accomodate the needs of clients who turn out not to be pregnant.
Some CPCs are hesitant to offer hormonal birth control, either because they are Catholic or because they believe that b.c. can be an abortifacient– an open question according to AAPLOG, http://www.aaplog.org/?page_id=226. Some offer condoms and/or NFP classes instead. It all depends on the particular center/clinic.
Hooyah!! This is great news…my family and I have been protesting there since this debacle began in 2007…and I can’t believe how sloppy the Aurora local gov’t is handling this.
If this Temple of Doom does need to get demolished…maybe we can offer the bulldozer rides as a fundraiser for the real centers/ groups that help women?
Hey Prolifer L!
This mill must be up in your neck of the woods.
Great job!
Keep contending!
We’ll join our faith with yours.
Heavenly Father,
We agree with our brothers and sisters in the Aurora, IL area, as You promised Joshua, every place that the sole of their foot treads upon, that have you given them. Jesus, You taught us to pray that Your Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Babies are not being killed in Heaven.
It is not Your Will that Your children are being killed like this, in their mother’s wombs, which you created to protect and nurture your precious little ones.
So like the Children of Israel in the Promised Land, we claim this ground for your Kingdom and Your Glory.
Like Jesus cursed the fig tree, we curse this demonic abortion business at its roots. We condemn it.
satan, we bind you in the Mighty Name of Jesus. You are under our feet. Jesus has given us power and authority over all of your power and nothing shall by any means hurt us.
Lord give supernatural wisdom to all those contending in this battle for the lives of these children. Make Your strategies for victory plain. Bring supernatural provision to the CPC’s in this region so that they can support and love the young mothers and children that need their help.
Above all, consume your mighty warriors with the fire of Your Spirit, may they be relentless and courageous in battle, strengthen them by Your Spirit and give them supernatural endurance to see this fight through to the very end.
In Your Name Jesus we pray,
Amen.
Hi Kelsey,
When I was involved with Birthright, offering any advice on birth control or contraception was viewed as medical advice and the client referred to an ob/gyn or GP, who she would have to consult with anyway to obtain contraception. It was a medical/legal issue and we walked a thin line.
Also, if clients had negative pregancy tests they were advised to repeat the test in a week and if pregnancy symptoms persisted to follow up with their doctors whatever the test results. There was always the possibility of an underlying medical problem or ectopic pregnancy.
Of course any client with a positive pregnancy test was advised to seek immediate medical care, either with her own doctor or a Birthright referral.
Amen.
Hi Sammi, 5:49am
I just noticed your post. Kelsey is correct, many CPCs, including Birthright, have no religious affiliation. I hope my 9:45am post addresses some of the issues you raised.
Hi LizfromNebraska, 8:40am
Your post isn’t quite accurate and I hope my 9:45am post addresses this for you. It was a medical/legal issue and as I said, we walked a very thin line as to what advice we could give clients. Contraception and abstinence were viewed as medical advice, as well as any questions concerning pregnancy or pregnancy symptoms. Telling a client not to worry about symptoms because her test was negative could result in the client not receivng needed medical attention for an unerlying medical problem.
We had to be very careful.
youtube.com/watch?v=ytZvxkFpVso
We’re still here and fighting for justice! This link to the Aurora city council meeting more than two and one half years ago shows what can be done through prayer and perseverance. We have not stopped, nor will we stop until we have justice for the unborn.
Thanks, Jill, for being there!
Thanks for your powerful prayer Ed. I say Amen as well.
Like Jerry I say thank you Jill for being such a great supporter. God bless you all and keep the prayers coming prolifers.
Sammi you are quoting flawed studies regarding the “failure of abstinence education”. Don’t have time to go through all of this with you today, maybe I will have time next week to give you the documentation that proves just the opposite, if you are really interested. Quality abstinence ed. does work, reduces teen sexual activity, delays sexual debut, does NOT decrease the use of contraceptives by teens who choose to become sexually active, decreases teens involvement in all risky behaviors and increases teens academic achievement. Liz’s and Kelsey’s points about why CPC don’t offer birth control are well taken along with other possible reasons. Got to go.
Thanks Mary. One obvious factor, which I forgot to mention, is whether the CPC has volunteer physicians on-site (i.e. a pregnancy help medical clinic) or relies on referrals (traditional CPC).
Heavenly Father,
Bring a mighty wave of healing to post-abortive moms in this region. Bring repentance, restoration and healing to broken hearts. Wash their hearts and minds with the pure water of Your Word. Strengthen and set on fire their hearts by Your Holy Spirit and may they minister powerfully, with empathy, for they too were once wounded. May Your compassion for young moms and post-abortive moms pour forth through them, bringing Life and healing to many, that many souls may be saved.
In the Name of Your Precious Son we pray,
Amen.
Pro-Lifer L –
That’s just not right that crisis pregnancy centers don’t receive federal funding. That’s awesome that you’ll don’t accept federal funding though so you’ll can minister. I bet if you’ll set up a web site and explained what you’ll do I think there would be plenty of donations. A lot of people like to give to causes that protect life. I wonder what would happen if a church and a crisis pregnancy center were next door to each other and just help were provided to the mom at the center and then just tell her if she wants to be ministered to she could go next door to the church. I wonder if that would be following federal guidelines. With the monies used just at the center. In the meantime, I would try using the internet to raise money for the center I think you’ll would be pleasantly surprised at the help given. What would be really cool is to print a bunch of brochures explaining what the crisis pregnancy center does and hand them out wherever abortions are taking place.
Hi Myrtle,
With federal funding comes federal rules and control. Its not a gift but more a chain around our necks.
Also, we had to understand that many of these girls perceived us as “religious fanatics” and were turned off by or avoided us for that reason.
Religion was usually not part of the discussion unless the client so chose.
Thanks Myrtle for your suggestions actually my CPC does have a website and if someone wants to contribute, volunteer, etc there is a way for them to contact us. Mary is correct their are lots of strings and restrictions attached to federal money. There are some grants that we and other CPCs apply for and sometimes receive but they are usually community, social service, religious or philanthropic organizations. I think we would be hard pressed with the anti-Christian, pro-abortion and pro-PP climate in D.C right now to see a loosening of funding to CPCs. They want to shut us down and they say we deceive women, pretty much the same gobbly-gook that the pro-aborts like ProChoiceGal, Melissa and others who troll Jill’s blog accuse us of here. But we can pray can’t we? God bless you Myrtle, you are precious. God is able to change the hearts of the President, the Congress and the entire nation. “The heart of the king is in God’s hands”. Amen.
Interesting that Ms. Stanek doesn’t mention that half of the defendants named in the suit were dismissed by the judge, for the final time.
Also interesting, and totally untrue, is Stanek’s assertion that if TMS wins the case that the building will have to be demolished or that PP will have to close and sell. Just a little hint for the non-lawyers out there…asking for a particular remedy doesn’t mean that you get it, even if you win.
When I posted earlier and wrote “my CPC”, it means that I participate and help with some of the CPC programs not that I am in a leadership role. When I re-read my post I realized it may be misleading. Sorry about that.
Mary-
If religion isn’t part of the discussion why aren’t you’ll eligible for federal funding?
Pro-Lifer-
It doesn’t seem right that you’ll can’t get funding. Planned Parenthood probably have lobbyist.
Ed,
What a sweet prayer for post abortive moms. Made me cry.
Thank you and AMEN!!!! :)
Myrtle,
I don’t quite understand your question. I don’t know if we were eligible for federal funding but such funding does not come without strings attached and the gov’t being able to dictate who you use as volunteers, what you advise clients, etc. FF may dictate that you must promote abortion and/or birth control.
Mary
Sorry sometimes I skim when I read. I just assumed that CPC would want federal funding if they could receive it.
Pro-Lifer
If a CPC wanted federal funding and weren’t promoting a religious agenda but did not want to promote abortion, I think they would be covered under the conscience clause. That’s if it still exist. From what I read President Obama has plans to change that as well. Hopefully, soon all moms will have access to private health care. And I’m hoping the conscience clause remains as is.