FORMER ABORTION CLINIC NOW HOUSES PRO-LIFE STATE ORGANIZATION

By Dave Andrusko

In a remarkable turn of events, a building that had housed death now is in the hands of those who've dedicated their lives to promoting life. A message from South Carolina Citizens for Life (SCCL) reveals once again that (literally) when one door closes, another opens.

Recently SCCL faced the prospect of having to move its headquarters because the rent was substantially increased. But what should come free at just that moment but a former abortion facility once owned by the state's most notorious abortionist.

Conditions in Jesse Floyd's abortion facility were allegedly so bad that eventually his own employees went to the news media to complain about grossly unsanitary conditions, SCCL Executive Director Holly Gatling told NRL News.

Once a local Charleston television station aired a three-part exposé based on the employees' allegations, Sen. Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) introduced the Abortion Clinic Regulation Act. Despite massive efforts by the abortion industry to keep the bill from passing and then being enforced, the courts ruled earlier this year that South Carolina's abortion clinic regulations are constitutional.

When Floyd died in an automobile accident six years ago, there were several lawsuits pending against him, Gatling explained. The abortion facility and the property went on the block for taxes, she said.

At that point a Christian businessman, Dennis Yeo, bought the building and began extensive renovations. "The place was an unbelievable dump," Gatling said. Remodeling began immediately and the new SCCL office officially opened for business the first week in October.

SCCL will be sharing building space with Bethany Christian Adoption Services, Gatling said, "doing redemptive, life-saving work in a building where thousands of babies once died."

"Losing our office space was a crisis, but God presented us with an unprecedented opportunity," she said. "The new space is better, our rent is the same, and we are closer to the State Capitol."