Last abortion clinic in south Texas closes its doors

After more than a quarter century driving past pro life advocates praying at the entrance to his abortion clinic’s parking lot entrance, Dr. Eduardo Aquino announced last month that he was retiring and closing his Coastal Birth Control Center.

Aquino, a gynecologist, has been performing abortions in Corpus Christi since 1978. Pro-life advocates have held constant prayer vigilance at his clinic. State legislation finally prompted the closure of the clinic.

In 2013, the first special session of the 83rd Texas Legislature adopted comprehensive abortion reforms. Among the reforms was a requirement that abortion clinics meet the building standards of ambulatory surgical centers. This requirement will go into effect in September. Aquino is reported to have said he would have to invest $1.5 million to bring his clinic up to the new standards. A cost, which he said, was not financially feasible.

“The church has long professed that the dignity of life, from conception to natural death, should be protected,” Bishop Michael Mulvey said. “The Diocese of Corpus Christi notes the retirement of Dr. Aquino and is hopeful that the lives of many unborn children will be preserved with the ultimate closing of the Coastal Birth Control Center on Morgan Street.”

Aquino’s clinic had seen an increase in abortions in recent months after provisions requiring physicians to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic went into effect, causing abortion centers in the Rio Grande Valley to close their doors.

With the closing of the abortion facility in Corpus Christi, abortions will no longer be available in any city within the historic boundaries of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, which today includes the Diocese of Brownsville, the Diocese of Laredo and part of the Diocese of Victoria.

Through the years, the efforts of pro-life advocates saved many lives, as women heard their prayerful messages and turned away from the clinic, Bishop Mulvey said.

Father James Farfaglia who has spent his adult life praying and advocating for a culture of life expressed joy at the closing of the clinic. “I am very grateful that the abortions are stopped. The closing of the clinic was the result of many years of prayer by many people,” Father Farfaglia said.

At the same time, Father Farfaglia said, “we need to reach out to Dr. Aquino, he is our brother; we need to pray for him and also pray for the women who had abortions and for the children that were aborted.”

Father Farfaglia described this development as a “game changer” but at the same time acknowledged, “Much work remains to be done.” For his part, as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Corpus Christi, he will heed Pope Francis’ call to “reach out to the marginalized.” He will continue to go out into the neighborhoods in his parish and offer help to those in need; to teenage moms and families who are experiencing difficulties.

“We can stop abortion from happening by helping young people make right decisions,” he said.

He said efforts should be initiated to build up programs such as Hope House so that it can help more women and children. Corpus Christi Hope House provides “shelter and assistance for homeless, abused and abandoned pregnant women and their dependent children.”

Hope House Chairman of the Board Ray Reeves said they are anticipating a 30 percent increase in demand for services and are doing fundraisers to purchase another shelter to help meet the demand.

“We call for a new openness to life in our community and our country. We pray for the unborn and for those who are dealing with a crisis pregnancy,” Bishop Mulvey said.