Carl Paladino, a strong opponent of abortion, doesn’t let his religious beliefs get in the way of making a quick profit.
The Buffalo bomb-thrower, who says his Catholic beliefs require him to oppose abortion — including in cases of rape and incest — is the landlord for a Planned Parenthood in Niagara Falls, The Post learned yesterday. The center provides services including the RU-486 pill, which Planned Parenthood calls “medication abortion.”
The clinic offers “medications to make the abortion more comfortable,” pre- and post-abortion patient education and post-abortion follow-ups.
DISPATCHES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
The “medication abortion” pill is offered up to nine weeks after a woman has learned she may be pregnant.
Women seeking surgical “in clinic” abortions are referred to another location.
The clinic, which serves 3,000 to 4,000 people annually, also offers specialized services to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, those whom Paladino has sharply criticized in recent days for participating in the “disgusting” Gay Pride Parade and whom he fears could “brainwash” kids.
“It’s very hypocritical. He wants to make money and he will bend his religious and political beliefs for it,” said Jamie Merritt, 31, of Paladino as she entered the center for an “emergency” appointment.
“If I felt strongly and was so against abortion, I would not allow Planned Parenthood on my property,” added Merritt, a Buffalo waitress.
Paladino, the GOP gubernatorial hopeful, has said he would approve of abortion only in cases where a mother’s life is in peril.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York President Tracey Brooks accused Paladino of “talking out of one side of his mouth” against abortion while “renting and accepting money from health-care centers he’s looking to cut funding to.”
Paladino cited the presence of a Planned Parenthood center at his Haeberle Plaza shopping center to convince the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency to grant him special tax exemptions, official records show.
His campaign manager, Michael Caputo, contended that Paladino’s company was obliged by an existing lease agreement to keep Planned Parenthood as a tenant after it acquired land to build the shopping center.
“Carl does not break the law or contracts, even in pursuit of his personal beliefs,” Caputo said.