The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is a grave evil.
“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church reads. “From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person — among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.”
To NPR, Horvath called abortion is “life-saving work.” And her clinic’s logo — birds flying into the air — is “symbolic of people being able to leave here and live their lives,” she added.
Also speaking with NPR, the other co-owner, nurse-midwife Morgan Nuzzo, called it a “sacred relationship” to be with someone during an abortion.
While they originally planned to open right after Labor Day, the clinic is facing delays on obtaining an updated application from Maryland for their health care facility license, NPR reported.
They say they have the money with a small-business loan, a foundation grant, and a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign.
“We are excited and ready to open the only women-owned and operated, all-trimester abortion clinic in the United States,” the GoFundMe page reads.
According to The Diamondback, UMD students also plan to hold fundraisers for the abortion clinic. The clinic also “hopes to maintain that community spirit with University of Maryland students once their clinic doors open.”
FiveThirtyEight previously reported that the clinic is located in a complex of offices down the street from a University of Maryland campus — with the parking lot entry across the street from a frat house.
SBA Pro-Life America responded to the news by highlighting that Horvath and Planned Parenthood were sued for malpractice in 2016 by a patient who allegedly suffered a perforated uterus, the destruction of her right ovary and fallopian tube, and other injuries.
Laura Bogely, the director of legislation for Maryland Right to Life, also condemned the abortion clinic.
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“Maryland citizens will be disgusted when they realize they are funding the brutal killing of fully formed babies in this late-term abortion mill,” she told CNA in a statement. “The atrocities that will occur there have no semblance of health care and amount to state-sanctioned child sacrifice.”
Partners in Abortion Care did not respond with comment by time of publication.
Former Washington, D. C., correspondent Katie Yoder covered pro-life issues, the U.S. Catholic bishops, public policy, and Congress for Catholic News Agency. She previously worked for Townhall.com, National Review, and the Media Research Center.