Abortion in Lancaster

Planned Parenthood first established a birth control clinic in Lancaster in 1932. But Lancaster County did not have an abortion facility during the 49 years that Roe v. Wade was in place because our community was active in upholding the sanctity of human life and opposing abortion.

But it wasn’t for lack of trying. In 1998, Planned Parenthood announced its intention to begin offering surgical abortions in the county. In response, community residents, church members, elected officials and business leaders came together to form Lancaster United for Life (LUFL) to make their voices heard. The group engaged in a multi-pronged effort to keep Lancaster abortion-facility free, mobilizing Lancaster’s pro-life community through prayer gatherings, public lectures, education, fundraising, and publicity, and holding Planned Parenthood accountable for zoning and state health regulations.

After LUFL members pursued legal challenges to Planned Parenthood, a court ruled that residential zoning prohibited abortion at their property. Despite two appeals, the decision was upheld. Additionally, LUFL members discovered that Planned Parenthood endangered women by failing to meet several state Department of Health regulations, including by not having a transfer agreement with a nearby hospital for patients suffering medical complications. Aware of Planned Parenthood’s intentions and deep community concern, all three local hospitals canceled or refused to renew their transfer agreements with Planned Parenthood.

As a direct result of challenges brought by LUFL, Planned Parenthood had no choice but to withdraw plans to provide abortions. (A more detailed history of this story is available here.)

Unable to perform abortions at their Lime Street location, PPKeystone was reduced to using it as a marketing and sales facility, where they arranged and referred women for abortions in facilities located outside of Lancaster County, including York, Harrisburg, and Reading. Pro-life advocates continued to conduct prayer vigils and sidewalk counseling in front of Planned Parenthood.

In May 2022, PPKeystone sold the property. However, they continued their fundraising efforts to purchase a new property where it could offer abortions.