'Entire Abortion Industry on Trial With Gosnell,' Say Pro-Life Groups
Dozens of America's biggest pro-life organizations have signed a joint letter emphasizing that such abortion horror stories as that of Kermit Gosnell are commonplace and prove that legal abortion is not safe.
"The Kermit Gosnell trial is not a unique situation. In fact, the Gosnell case explains why abortion clinics go to such great lengths to keep life advocates away from public property surrounding their facilities," the pro-life leaders state.
Both pro-life and pro-choice parties, including Planned Parenthood, have expressed their disturbance over the trial of Gosnell, a late-term abortion provider in Pennsylvania who is charged with killing seven babies after they were born, targeting poor women who could not afford better health care. The accounts of what went on in his abortion facility have been extremely grizzly – but the pro-life and pro-choice movements disagree over how commonplace such cases are.
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In their joint letter, pro-life groups such as the American Life League, Life Legal Defense Foundation, Susan B. Anthony List, LifeNews.com, National Black Pro-Life Union, Pro-Life Action Ministries and a host of others insisted that Gosnell's practices are not a unique occurrence.
"The trial of abortionist Gosnell is especially important, because the prosecuting attorneys for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are presenting the facts that represent the precise reality of the state of the abortion industry today in our country," the letter says.
Details of the Gosnell case have been conveyed by eye witnesses who have told of beheaded babies and fetal body parts, as well as reused surgical equipment that infected abortion patients with STDs. The pro-life groups have called it "the most debased and disgusting of racist conduct" for targeting women of color.
"Despite the graphic nature of the testimony that could only come from the darkest depths of human depravity, we the undersigned have further evidence that abortionist Gosnell's practices are reflective of abuses that characterize the entire abortion industry. These abuses have been documented for decades through law enforcement activities, news reports, court documents, lawsuits, undercover investigations, and testimonies of former abortionists and their clients," the letter continues.
The pro-life advocates remind Americans that it has been over 40 years since Roe v. Wade was signed into law, which legalized abortion across the country, but that has not brought women more dignity or advanced their equality.
"Although only one abortionist is being prosecuted today, the entire abortion industry is on trial," the pro-life groups say, and recount many other cases of abortion doctors being put on trial or being accused of unsafe practices that have led to deaths.
"Let the history books be written that these are the last days of legalized abortion on demand. We will press with all our collective might to expose the gruesome activity of every abortion provider and bring them to legal accountability, just as is happening now with Kermit Gosnell and his accomplices."
Gosnell's trial was originally absent from many news organizations, leading some to make accusations of liberal bias, but more and more websites have picked up on the late-term abortionist. The doctor faces the death penalty if convicted.
The full letter can be read below:
Open Letter to our Fellow Citizens from Pro-life Leaders of America
April, 2013
The undersigned pro-life leaders want to emphasize the historic significance of the current murder trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell and call upon all men and women of conscience to take note.
Police investigators accurately described his Philadelphia abortion clinic as the House of Horrors in the frightening 281-page Grand Jury report which indicted abortion Doctor Kermit Gosnell and eight of his employees.
Abortionist Gosnell has a long history as a founding member and pioneer of the abortion agenda in the United States and is being tried for eight counts of murder related to the brutal deaths of seven babies born alive during late-term abortions, as well as the overdose death of one of his patients.
The horrid details graphically articulated in the grand jury report concerning what it called Gosnell's "charnel house" are now being relived in real time in a Philadelphia courtroom. The trial of abortionist Gosnell is especially important, because the prosecuting attorneys for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are presenting the facts that represent the precise reality of the state of the abortion industry today in our country.
The jurors -- and the world -- are witnessing testimony of babies beheaded and fetal body parts kept as trophies. The squalid conditions, reuse of surgical equipment that infected abortion patients with STDs, and other abuses were inflicted upon poor urban women of color, revealing the most debased and disgusting of racist conduct. Gosnell's complete disregard for the dignity and safety of patients triggered the death of at least two women. The horrific and painful death of a legal immigrant named Karnamaya Mongar has put abortionist Gosnell on trial for her murder.
Eye witnesses concur that words cannot fully describe the appalling circumstances, the inhumane treatment of women, or the newborn children crying out and struggling for breath only to have their necks slit and their spinal cords severed with surgical scissors.
Despite the graphic nature of the testimony that could only come from the darkest depths of human depravity, we the undersigned have further evidence that abortionist Gosnell's practices are reflective of abuses that characterize the entire abortion industry. These abuses have been documented for decades through law enforcement activities, news reports, court documents, lawsuits, undercover investigations, and testimonies of former abortionists and their clients.
Forty years of abortion on demand through all nine months of pregnancy has not brought women more dignity, made them freer, or advanced their equality. Instead, as the trial of abortionist Gosnell cruelly testifies, abortion has made women the subject of predatory practices, ugly disfigurement, gruesome deaths, and conditions not even fitting for animals.
Although only one abortionist is being prosecuted today, the entire abortion industry is on trial. We remember the wrongful death of Tonya Reaves at the hands of Planned Parenthood last July.
We remember the needless death of Jennifer Morbelli at the hands of LeRoy Carhart just a few short months ago. We have recorded the deaths of countless other women as well who have lost their lives to the euphemistic "freedom of choice."
In history, there are often significant moments that make the once-hardened hearts of people more malleable. These changed hearts are then eager to bring about social reform and work toward justice. We understand how such moments as Emmett Till's funeral, and the graphic pictures that emerged from a post-Nazi Germany detailing the Holocaust effected positive change in society.
The trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell is just such a moment.
Let the history books be written that these are the last days of legalized abortion on demand. We will press with all our collective might to expose the gruesome activity of every abortion provider and bring them to legal accountability, just as is happening now with Kermit Gosnell and his accomplices.
We also pray for all those involved in these atrocities, and for their repentance and healing.
The abortion industry can no longer hide behind its euphemisms and favored-status in the world of media and politics. The truth about its abuse of humanity is on record today for the world to see. We call upon all people of good will to pay attention and to join with us in bringing an end to this brutality.
Signers' names follow in alphabetical order:
Archbishop Craig Bates, Patriarch, International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church
Jim Backlin, Christian Coalition of America
Christopher Bell – President, Good Counsel, Inc. Homes Helping Mothers and Babies Before, During and After birth
Bethany & Ryan Bomberger - The Radiance Foundation
Father Shenan J. Boquet, President of Human Life International
Joseph A Brinck, President, Sanctity of Life Foundation
Judie Brown – President and Co-Founder, American Life League
Samuel Casey - Managing Director & General Counsel, Law of Life Project
Larry Cirignano – Faithful Catholic Citizens
Dana Cody - President & Executive Director, Life Legal Defense Foundation
Marjorie Dannenfelser, President, Susan B. Anthony List
Mary Davenport, MD - AAPLOG (American Association of Pro-life Ob-Gyns)
Bishop Michael Davidson, Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC)
Steven Ertelt – Editor, LifeNews.com
Georgette Forney – President, Anglicans for Life
Dr Day Gardner – President, National Black Pro-Life Union
Kristina Garza - Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust
Fr. Terry Gensemer, Director, CECForLife
Brian Gibson - Executive Director, Pro-Life Action Ministries
Rev James R. Harden, M.Div – Commission for Reproductive Health Service Standards
Kristan Hawkins, Executive Director, Students for Life of America
Ben Johnson - U.S. Bureau Chief, LifeSiteNews.com
Charles T. Kenny, Ph.D. President, Right Brain People
Steve Koob, PhD, Director, One More Soul
Maria McFadden Maffuci – Editor, Human Life Review
Bradley Mattes, Executive Director, Life Issues Institute
Patricia A. McEwen,PhD - Life Coalition International
Troy Newman, President, Operation Rescue
Star Parker - President and Founder, Center for Urban Renewal and Education
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life
Austin Ruse – President, Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute
The Most Reverend David Simpson, Bishop of Florida, ICCEC
Christopher Slattery, Founder and President, Expectant Mother Care-EMC FrontLine Pregnancy Centers
Cheryl Sullenger - Senior Policy Advisor, Operation Rescue
Eric J. Scheidler – Executive Director, Pro-Life Action League
Jill Stanek – JillStanek.com
Jo Tolck - Executive Director, Human Life Alliance
