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Diocese says Planned Parenthood trying to move too close to school

By Jamel Major - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Planned Parenthood is at the center of controversy after being accused by the Memphis Catholic Diocese of trying to move too close to a school.

Planned Parenthood says its goal is to prevent unplanned pregnancies and the spread of STD's.  But Father John Geaney of the Diocese of Memphis says he's against the organization's plan to relocate about a half a mile from Memphis Catholic High School.

"Anytime you are educating children we want to be able to make sure they receive what we understand to be the way of the good Christian approach to life, and having Planned Parenthood that close is not helping that," Geaney said.

But Planned Parenthood president Barry Chase disagrees.

"I don't know how anyone who has any logic can call one mile too close to anything," he said.

Chase said his organization recently filed a certificate of need with state officials, seeking approval to move from its current location at 1407 Union Avenue to 1750 Madison Avenue. According to Chase, Planned Parenthood has to move out of its Union Avenue office to make room for UT Medical Group, which is moving in.  Chase said the Madison Avenue location was chosen because it's convenient for the organization's clientele.  

"Ninety percent are at poverty," he said. "Most live in the inner city. We need to be somewhere they can reach us."

But Father Geaney is not buying it, saying he and many others will continue to do whatever it takes to show their opposition.

"We will do what the people of our faith believe is very important.  They will find that they will be protested," he said.

Planned Parenthood is still awaiting approval from the state.  The organization says it plans to relocate sometime this Spring.

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