Editorial: Amarillo home to many beliefs

Conservatives still value law, order

August 26, 2006

It is really no surprise that the group called "Missionaries of the Gospel of Life" selected Amarillo as the home for an expansive and expensive facility dedicated to protecting the sanctity of life.

Amarillo's strong conservative reputation and tradition would seem to welcome such a facility, which will serve as a training ground for religious leaders in the ongoing pro-life movement.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were Thursday for the two-story, 38,000-square-foot building project, which will include as many as eight buildings.

Obviously, the group's leaders, which include Amarillo Catholic Diocese Bishop John W. Yanta, wanted to place the group in an area that recognizes the importance of life and how the protection of life must be a priority.

Just as importantly, Amarillo recognizes law and order, civility and the protection of individual rights.

Organizations that can be described as pro-choice are battening down the hatches, fearing the worst as the abortion debate could take center stage in Amarillo. We hope - and believe - that such drastic steps as bulletproof glass and security doors at Planned Parenthood of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle are not necessary. Not that the abortion debate has anything to do with racism, but Amarillo proved it can conduct a civil - albeit a loud and rowdy - public debate when the unwelcome Ku Klux Klan staged a downtown "rally" earlier this month.

While Amarillo is a conservative bastion - and that includes on the abortion issue - we think the religious leaders who chose to make this area their new home made a good choice for another reason also.

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