Fifty years ago the 16,000 square foot Montclair building had been constructed as a hospital, a place of healing. In the late 1960’s it was converted into an abortion facility. Abortion had been made legal in California several years before the 1973 Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision. The building owner, Dr. Edward Allred, founded Family Planning Associates, now the largest for-profit abortion chain in the nation.
The abortion facility’s business has declined steadily these past years due to an unrelenting prayerful presence, including several 40 Days for Life Campaigns and the relocation of Assure Pregnancy Resource Center around the corner offering Life-affirming options. Ultimately, a local doctor purchased the building in order to close down the abortion facility.
As Fr. Nguyen spread grace throughout spaces that had known unimaginable suffering, voices praying the rosary, led by Notre Dame High School Chaplain Father Paul Schmidt, echoed from what had been the abortion facility’s waiting room. Local leaders including Pete Lockie of San Secondo D’Asti in Guasti, Robin Capalbo of St. Peter & St. Paul, Alta Loma and Kristina Garza of the young adults group Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust inspired the gathering of dozens of people who had over the course of many years faithfully prayed and counseled from the sidewalks outside the abortion facility. They came to pray at this memorial service for the more than 150,000 innocent babies who had been legally put to death in these rooms.
Prayers were also offered for the mothers who had been physically, spiritually and emotionally harmed, for the fathers, family members and friends hurt through their participation in the abortions, as well as for the doctors, nurses, staff and those who profited financially, that they might find reconciliation and healing.
Family Planning Associates has re-opened one block north at 5050 Palo Verde, in a much smaller office, no longer performing surgical abortions though still performing chemical abortions.
Marie Widmann was introduced to Pro Life Ministry 25 years ago when she was invited to a Mother’s Prayer Walk outside this Montclair abortion facility. She has served as Director of Pro Life Catholic Ministries since 1993.