More than three dozen leaders of national pro-life organizations from across the country have signed a letter calling on all Americans to take note of the ongoing murder trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell.
Their unity letter, which LifeNews.com has signed, says the horrors described daily in the courtroom “represent the precise reality of the state of the abortion industry today in our country.”
Gosnell faces four counts of first-degree murder of babies born alive, third-degree murder of a patient who died following a botched 2009 abortion, and multiple counts of performing late-term abortions past the legal limit in Pennsylvania. In total, Gosnell faces 380 charges of varying degrees.
“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,” the signatories wrote. “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.
They say: “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.”
Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, spearheaded the campaign and is among the leaders who signed the open letter.
“We have an opportunity to show people the true nature of abortion, the true meaning of ‘choice,’“ Father Pavone said. “We must seize this moment to make sure everyone understands that what happened in Gosnell’s clinic has been happening all over the country for the last 40 years.”
Read the letter here (PDF) or see 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.
Bradley Mattes, Executive Director, Life Issues Institute
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life
Jim Backlin, Christian Coalition of America
Troy Newman, President, Operation Rescue
Cheryl Sullenger – Senior Policy Advisor, Operation Rescue
Christopher Slattery, Founder and President, Expectant Mother Care-EMC FrontLine Pregnancy Centers
Father Shenan J. Boquet, President of Human Life International
Steve Koob, PhD, Director, One More Soul
Charles T. Kenny, Ph.D. President, Right Brain People
Joseph A Brinck, President, Sanctity of Life Foundation
Archbishop Craig Bates, Patriarch, International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church
Bishop Michael Davidson, Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC)
Fr. Terry Gensemer, Director, CECForLife
Kristan Hawkins, Executive Director, Students for Life of America
Samuel Casey – Managing Director & General Counsel, Law of Life Project
Mary Davenport, MD – AAPLOG (American Association of Pro-life Ob-Gyns)
Brian Gibson – Executive Director, Pro-Life Action Ministries
Austin Ruse – President, Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute
Patricia A. McEwen,PhD – Life Coalition International
Bethany & Ryan Bomberger – The Radiance Foundation
Dr Day Gardner – President, National Black Pro-Life Union
Steven Ertelt – Editor, LifeNews.com
Dana Cody – President & Executive Director, Life Legal Defense Foundation
Jo Tolck – Executive Director, Human Life Alliance
Maria McFadden Maffuci – Editor, Human Life Review
Larry Cirignano – Faithful Catholic Citizens
Rev James R. Harden, M.Div – Commission for Reproductive Health Service Standards
Eric J. Scheidler – Executive Director, Pro-Life Action League
Judie Brown – President and Co-Founder, American Life League
Jill Stanek – JillStanek.com
Kristina Garza – Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust
Georgette Forney – President, Anglicans for Life
Fr. Terry Gensemer – Director, CECForLife
