Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) today harshly criticized the Health Services and Development Agency for voting to locate a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic two-tenths of a mile from a Catholic high school and home for retired priests.
“It is shocking that the HSDA would do something so stupid and insensitive,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “They voted to allow over 700 abortions to be carried out annually next door to a Catholic school and home for retired priests. Abortion providers should not be located near any school, much less a religiously affiliated institution. The HSDA should revoke this action and apologize immediately.”
The Catholic Diocese of Memphis formally protested the HSDA action in a letter to the agency. The facility would consist of two surgical rooms where abortions would be performed at 1750 Madison Avenue in Memphis.
"I have asked the Chairman of the Senate Government Operations Committee to bring the HSDA before the committee and explain this action," said Lt. Governor Ramsey. "There is no excuse for a government entity to intentionally insult every pro-life citizen of Tennessee."
Lt. Governor Ramsey was recently named Tennessee Right to Life Legislator of the Year. In the 2009 legislative session, he led the fight to deny state funds to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider.