Opposition has delayed but not halted the construction of a Planned Parenthood health center on Claiborne Avenue.

Resistance against the clinic began last year when New Orleans’ Archbishop Gregory Aymond wrote an open letter condemning all persons and businesses working on the clinic.  Since then, protests, delays and constant political roadblocks have had a constant presence at the site.

The most recent of these obstacles was Jindal’s decision to deny the facility an operating permit, claiming they failed to prove the community’s need for the clinic.

Jewel Bush, communication manager for Planned Parenthood, said that Jindal’s claim is an example of how the determined minority is using intimidation tactics to end access to safe, legal abortion in Louisiana.

“Louisiana politicians are using every trick in the book to restrict access to safe, legal abortion. Some have also publicly threatened to introduce legislation with even more abortion restrictions in the upcoming session,” Bush said.  “Special interest groups are using abhorrent tactics such as harassment and intimidation in an effort to shame and silence those who support women’s health care.”

The communications office of the Archdiocese of New Orleans said they were unable to comment on the matter.  However, in his public letter written a year ago, Aymond said the Planned Parenthood clinic in New Orleans would cause more problems than good.

“A regional abortion center will not solve our problems; it will only create more. This is not the future the New Orleans metropolitan area needs. We hope that the community invested in the city of New Orleans and in her future will join us in standing for life, not more abortion,” Aymond said in his letter.

Bush said that while many are led to believe that the majority of Louisiana citizens oppose abortion, a 2013 poll conducted for Planned Parenthood by Hamilton Campaigns proved otherwise, showing 59 percent of Louisiana voters agree that Roe v. Wade should be left in place.  The poll also reported that 84 percent agree that  “decisions about whether to choose adoption, end a pregnancy or raise a child must be left to the woman, her family and her faith with the counsel of her doctor.”

Bush said the new clinic will provide women and families access to a wide range of reproductive health care, many of which do not involve abortion.  Access to well-woman exams, breast health, STI prevention, testing and treatment and contraception are other services that will be offered at the clinic.

“In Louisiana, there is a vast unmet need for women’s health care — specifically preventive care and access to contraception.  As a result, six in 10 pregnancies in Louisiana are unintended. The bottom line is too many Louisiana women and families are already going without access to basic, preventive health care,” Bush said.

According to Planned Parenthood’s 2014 annual report, abortion services make up three percent of the health services they provide, while STD testing and treatment contributes to 42 percent and contraception access makes up 32 percent.

Those in opposition continue to fight against the construction of the Claiborne facility, mostly due to the controversies associated with abortions.

Bush said Planned Parenthood is determined to continue forward with the construction of the clinic, regardless of future obstacles that are likely to come.

“Even though this project has encountered unnecessary delays due to the relentless intimidation, campaigns launched against our vendors, we will not be deterred,” Bush said.

According to The Times-Picayune, the construction of the clinic has resumed with the pouring of concrete on Monday, March 23.

Correction: This story previously stated that the Jindal Administration denied Planned Parenthood a permit to operate. Planned Parenthood was denied a Facility Needs Review by the Department of Health and Hospitals, which prohibits the clinic to perform abortions and does not affect their ability to open the clinic. The FNR was appealed by Planned Parenthood. The denial has been pulled and Planned Parenthood is submitting supplemental material to the application and is waiting for approval.