• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Options@328 is a pro-life pregnancy resource center in downtown Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Pro-life center opens next to Planned Parenthood in downtown Baltimore

October 22, 2020
By Tim Swift
Catholic Review
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Archbishop's Ministry, Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn
Archbishop William E. Lori, center, and Center for Pregnancy Concerns board members, dedicate their newest location, Options @328, Sept. 24 on Howard Street in Baltimore City. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

After years of preparation, the Center for Pregnancy Concerns is opening its newest Baltimore City location with a “virtual ribbon cutting.” 

Offering health screening and counseling services, Options@328 will operate out of a restored storefront next to the city’s most prominent abortion provider, Planned Parenthood.

Concerns about the coronavirus pandemic prevented a large in-person event, however, the Center for Pregnancy Concerns is moving the festivities online at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 22. The event includes a virtual tour of Options@328 with Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori.

Archbishop Lori joined Center for Pregnancy Concerns board members and Knights of Columbus Maryland State Deputy Vince Grauso as they cut a large pink ribbon to signal the opening of the center. Archbishop Lori blessed the site and offered a prayer for the success of the venture. 

The Center for Pregnancy Concerns spent almost $1 million to convert the rundown Howard Street building into a modern health center, which includes a new sonogram machine donated by the Knights of Columbus.

Maryland State Council Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Vince Grauso presents a check to Archbishop William E. Lori and the Center for Center for Pregnancy Concerns Options @328 location on Howard Street in Baltimore City to cover the expense of an ultrasound machine following a Sept. 24 blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Option@328, which is set to open to clients in the next few days, is primarily positioned to help change a woman’s mind about having an abortion, but Executive Director Gina Ruppert said it can – in some cases – help women who have already started the process.

Rupert said Options@328 will help women who want to stop medication-induced abortions, which may be possible if women receive treatment within 24 hours of taking the first of two drugs that induce abortion. As part of the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, Option@328 will help women obtain the necessary prescription for the drug progesterone and monitor their health afterward.

The Abortion Pill Rescue Network says the progesterone treatment has a roughly 65 percent success rate if administered properly. 

Rupert said the center will help women access social services that could help support them during and after their pregnancies. She added that as a nondenominational Christian organization, it is prepared to give women spiritual as well as physical support.

Ruppert said it was important to have a location in the heart of Baltimore. Center for Pregnancy Concerns operates four centers, including one at St. Ann in East Baltimore and another at St. Rita in Dundalk, but Options@328 is the first downtown location.

Gina Ruppert is executive director of the Center for Pregnancy Concerns. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Carol Clews, the former executive director who launched the project, said being able to open a center next to Planned Parenthood was “literally a godsend.”

“I absolutely believe that these mothers who come here thinking, very definitively about wanting to have an abortion, will see this and they will have second thoughts,” Clews said.

With the nomination of federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, abortion has again become a prominent issue as Americans cast ballots for the next president. If confirmed, Barrett is expected to cement the high courts’ conservative majority. Barrett, a devout Catholic, has publicly opposed abortion. Liberal activists expect the new court with Barrett to severely weaken or overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that made abortion legal.

With political tensions running high, Ruppert said she wants the resource center to be a “good neighbor” to Planned Parenthood and avoid any disturbances. 

For more information about how to take part in the Center for Pregnancy Concerns virtual ribbon-cutting event for Options@328, event visit https://cpcforhelp.org or https://bitly.com/3ddjuwa.

Email Tim Swift at tswift@CatholicReview.org

More Respect Life News

Planned Parenthood

Judge blocks, for now, Planned Parenthood defunding provision backed by bishops

Report: US abortions continue post-Dobbs rise in part due to telehealth

In retrial, judge acquits man charged in assault on pro-life protester

Supreme Court rules states can deny Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood

British Parliament ‘effectively decriminalizes’ abortion up to birth

Supreme Court takes up appeal from N.J. faith-based pregnancy centers

High court sends Catholic groups’ challenge to N.Y. abortion-coverage mandate back to state courts

House Republicans advance bill to repeal FACE Act

In move called a ‘dark day’ for residents, N.Y. Senate passes assisted suicide law

Copyright © 2020 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Tim Swift

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • 3 North Americans named to Vatican dicasteries for ecumenism, interreligious dialogue

  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

  • St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

  • St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

  • Augustinian prior opens up about papal vacation, first encyclical, appointments and tennis

| Latest Local News |

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

| Latest World News |

Judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship order as part of class action lawsuit

Ukraine religious leaders issue ‘desperate cry’ to world to end Russia’s war

care of creation

Pope Leo wears Chicago-made vestments to July 9 ‘care of creation’ Mass

sorry baby

Movie Review: Sorry, Baby

ICE

ICE deports Iowa parishioner to Guatemala homeland as supporters pray for his release

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship order as part of class action lawsuit
  • Ukraine religious leaders issue ‘desperate cry’ to world to end Russia’s war
  • Pope Leo wears Chicago-made vestments to July 9 ‘care of creation’ Mass
  • Movie Review: Sorry, Baby
  • ICE deports Iowa parishioner to Guatemala homeland as supporters pray for his release
  • Come away and rest awhile
  • French woman hopes sharing mystical encounter with Minnesota Benedictine helps sainthood cause
  • Pope: Vatican still ready to host peace talks between Russia, Ukraine
  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en