In January, Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, Louisiana, pledged that the archdiocese would not “enter into business relationships with any person or organization” involved with the construction of a new Planned Parenthood clinic. The policy to avoid the “serious scandal” associated with an abortion clinic was applied to both Catholics and non-Catholics with ties to archdiocesan nursing homes, churches, schools and housing, according to the Clarion Herald.

Fox8Live News quoted Greg LaRose, editor of the New Orleans CityBusiness newspaper, as saying, “This, I think, is fairly unprecedented.” But in 2004, the Catholic Exchange reported that when he was bishop of Austin, Texas, Aymond threatened Texas Girl Scout troops with expulsion from parish facilities for sponsoring a sexual health education conference affiliated with Planned Parenthood.

In February, the project was halted after Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration denied Planned Parenthood an operating license for the New Orleans facility, stating that there was no demonstrated need for the clinic, the Washington Post reported. Planned Parenthood immediately notified the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) of its intent to appeal the decision, and Nola.com reported that the DHH responded, “They now have the right to appeal our decision before the Division of Administrative Law (DAL), where it will be considered by an administrative law judge.” Raegan Carter, senior director of external services for the Planned Parenthood Center for Choice, said, “Make no mistake, our new health center will open.”