12/18/2025
Memories like this are worth remembering, celebrating, and cherishing for the sake of love and life.
Apostolic work like this is the kind that continues to foster the good in society and eternally.
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LIFE WINS IN SAN ANTONIO!
Ten years ago today, on December 17, 2015, SAFA achieved a historic victory when the San Antonio City Council passed the city’s first-ever Pro-Life ordinance. The ordinance, adopted by a floor vote against City Staff’s recommendation, prevented future abortion facilities from being built next to established residential neighborhoods.
This decisive vote was the culmination of more than 13 months of full-time apostolic work, waged across legal, administrative, legislative, and cultural fronts.
Legally, SAFA filed a lawsuit against the City of San Antonio and Planned Parenthood South Texas over the illegal and preferential zoning of Planned Parenthood’s new Ambulatory Surgical (abortion) Center. The lawsuit delayed the facility’s licensing by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for more than six months, saving an estimated 1,187 babies’ lives, according to testimony from Planned Parenthood personnel in court. Three videotaped depositions of senior city planners exposed ideological favoritism toward the abortion industry by the then–Mayor, City Manager, Development Services Director, and a District 8 Councilman. Depositions were approved for 26 additional city staff members, including the City Manager. Under immense pressure, SAFA’s plaintiff was ultimately forced to withdraw, ending the lawsuit and allowing the abortion facility to open next to family homes.
Administratively, SAFA appeared before 10 city boards and commissions in more than 60 official meetings. Twice, SAFA prevailed in convincing boards to rule against the City. One board formally requested City Council reconsider the zoning decision—only to have City Staff refuse to honor the board’s vote. In a stunning display of defiance, staff even told the Chairman of the Building-Related Fire Code Appeals and Advisory Board, a Professional Engineer (now deceased), to write his own letter, stating, “We won’t write that letter for you.”
Legislatively, SAFA engaged in relentless advocacy with elected and appointed officials, including a new mayor more receptive to pastoral counsel and a particularly persevering District 10 councilman and his chief of staff, who has since passed away. For weeks, SAFA met with officials in offices, elevators, hallways, and chambers—providing nonstop education on life, zoning integrity, property rights, business favoritism, and the sanctity of family home life. Despite City Staff’s opposition—and even their comparison of surgical abortion to LASIK eye surgery—a Pro-Life councilman introduced SAFA’s amendment from the floor. Through hard work, persuasive argument, and the grace of God, the amendment passed 7–4, including votes from several pro-abortion Democrats, influenced by strong grassroots and parish engagement.
Culturally, SAFA organized more than 58 prayer vigils and rallies during those 13 months, with over 1,000 people gathering repeatedly around the Planned Parenthood facility. That witness continues every Friday from 12:30–1:30 p.m. Join SAFA on the sidewalk at 2140 Babcock to defend life.
To watch videos of SAFA in action during 2015, visit our YouTube channel:
Special thanks to Harry Padilla for his many hours of videography documenting SAFA’s work to protect, defend, and promote life in San Antonio. Thank you for your prayers and help.
Since 2011, SAFA has helped save 2,192 babies’ lives, along with that many women and the fatherhood of that many men. SAFA continues the good fight for human flourishing.
Please help SAFA celebrate and continue this mission at:
SanAntonioFamilyAssociation.com
