New pro-life coalition aims to 'Stop the Gosnells'

Washington D.C., Jun 6, 2013 / 16:06 pm

A new group of pro-life organization across the country is working to expose and fight abuses such as infanticide and health violations in later-term abortion clinics.

The organizations are uniting in a coalition called "Stop the Gosnells," named after Kermit Gosnell, a Philadelphia late-term abortionist who was recently convicted of murdering babies who survived abortions in his clinic, along with several other crimes.

Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, argued that despite the narrative promoted by members of the abortion industry, "there surely are more Gosnell-style houses of horror throughout the country."

"The Stop the Gosnells coalition is dedicated to exposing these atrocities and demanding that Congress take action," Greer explained in a June 5 statement. "The many lives lost in that West Philadelphia 'House of Horrors' require a response."

Lila Rose, president of Live Action, agreed, saying that the undercover work her organization has done "is exposing the horrifying reality that Kermit Gosnell is not an outlier."

"His gruesome and inhuman practices make for just a typical day at the office inside abortion facilities across America," she charged. "We urge the public to take immediate action to protect women and children from the Gosnells still at large in our nation."

The new coalition is working to expose further abuses at late-term abortion facilities and to urge lawmakers at both the federal and state levels to take action to stop such practices.

Among the concerns raised by its members are the lack of oversight in the late-term abortion industry and the reports of health violations, contamination and patient deaths as a result.

The coalition features a grassroots action center on its website for individuals to contact their elected representatives and urge them to stop the abuse.

The website also highlights the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), that would prohibit abortions past 20 weeks gestation.

Penny Young Nance, president and CEO of Concerned Women for America, applauded Franks and other pro-life advocates for their work to examine the "oversight and practices of late-term abortions facilities."

However, she said, more action by Congress is needed to further protect women and their children.

"The abortion industry nationwide is rife with the brutality and abuse revealed during the Kermit Gosnell trial," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, which works to support pro-life politicians.

"The time is ripe to address the questions: what does it mean to truly support women's health and where do we step in to protect the rights of the most vulnerable?"

"As a nation, we must examine how the scourge of late-term abortion impacts women, children, abortion-industry employees, and our communities," Dannenfelser said. "We look forward to seeing these discussions take place and be properly addressed by Congress and the states."