A Cry for Dignity

“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe.”

Elie Wiesel

 

This was one of the quotes referenced last night by Rev. Pat Mahoney,  Director of the Christian Defense Coalition. The event was called, "A Cry for Dignity," formed to hasten the release of the babies killed by now life-imprisoned late term abortionist Kermit Gosnell. 

I wrote about the first gathering on that sweltering day, July 19th. Last night's and today's events went together; a candlelight vigil at Gosnell's former "clinic,"and today, a witness at the Medical Examiner's, in which we held up placards with each baby's name and prayed.

Here are a few of my pictures: 

 Some group left pamphlets under the door

 Here is what they said

And here is one taken by someone else.

It was meant to be a candlelight vigil, but it was too windy. It didn't take away from the powerful prayer and sense of purpose.

And today:

In attendance at both gatherings were several pro life leaders and priests, some driving from as far as Birmingham, Alabama.
Here,  Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, gives a talk. You can see Malaika and I.



The speakers from both events were wonderfully skilled at articulating the significance of Gosnell. Not that it is a singular situation, as abortion clinics go, but they pointed out that the Gosnell debacle has gotten the attention of the public, and is a window in to the world of the abortion industry.

The "Cry for Dignity" events are to bring awareness to the fact that the victims of Gosnell  deserve the respect due to all humans. The Medical Examiner has stated they DO plan to bury the babies, but may in fact take up to TEN YEARS to do so. There is much legal wrangling going on behind the scenes; the M.E. happens to be violating its own policies.

The powers that be, i.e., Dr. Donald Swartz, Deputy Mayor for Health and Opportunity (a mouthful),  Mayor Nutter, and Chief M.E., Dr. Sam Gulino, are avoiding entering in to the arena, it seems to me and others, for fear they would be entering in to abortion politics and appearing to side with  pro life.

Here are a few links to some articles:

http://www.lifenews.com/2013/08/26/medical-examiner-may-not-release-bodies-of-babies-gosnell-killed-for-10-years/

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/25/3135253/abortion-foes-seek-fetuses-from.html

 

Pleading for decency in Philadelphia

Yesterday, I was honored to join in a prayerful protest outside the Medical Examiner's headquarters in Philadelphia. The subject of the protest was that the babies aborted by Kermit Gosnell, then mutilated and kept in containers such as mayonnaise jars and orange juice cartons, or in his freezer, are still in the possession of the Medical Examiner. This despite the request by Priests for Life, supported by many other major prolife groups, to claim the babies' bodies and give them the respectful burial they deserve.

Present were: Father Frank Pavone, Father Dennis Wilde, Brian Kemper, of Stand True Ministries,(formerly of Operation Rescue), Rev. Patrick Mahoney, of Christian Defense Coalition, Raymond Burke, Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, and many students, seniors and in-betweeners, like myself. They came from New York, DC, Virginia, Georgia, one family drove in from Schnecksville, Pa. And those are just the ones I spoke with. All to stand out in the blazing Philadelphia heat and offer prayer and petition to honor the remains of the babies. After a few statements, we prayed for each baby by name (remember Father Pavone led a ceremony to name each one, here.

The group of leaders than approached the building with the intent of delivering a letter requesting the babies' remains. They were summarily locked out, police were called, would not help by delivering the letter, and on the Fox News coverage in the evening, apparently the Medical Examiner "already has plans" to respectfully "dispose of the bodies.

Here are a few of my own pictures.

 Brian Kemper, Father Pavone and Rev. Patrick Mahoney, gathering info before the event.

conferring together, also with Kristan Hawkins

Of course, the only news coverage.

Father Wilde who led us in prayer while the group tried to gain access to the building.

 Directly before giving their statements. The woman in the yellow top is the Fox News correspondent. (so sorry for forgetting your name, dear! --she also delivered the story on air last night around 6:30)

The group praying.  I was really touched and humbled by the lovely people I met there and their willing sacrifice.  As I stated before, some came long distances through rush hour beltway traffic. The students were especially sweet, one of whom was very solicitous of me, offering me a ride to my pretty-far-away car.

God Bless her-argh! I forget her name, but He knows who she is. :)


Here are a few links to the media story, which contains more details:
This one about the Medical Examiner story, and this one for the background of the Gosnell story.

At the end of the news story regarding yesterday--there is this statement:

We are issuing a national all call for pro-lifers to come here to stand for the dignity of Gosnell’s victims. It will be called a “Cry for Dignity” and take place on August 25 and 26 in Philly.
In the meantime, we urge you to make your voice heard by contacting the Medical Examiner’s Office at 215-685-7445 and asking for the release of these babies for burial.

Lord, have mercy.

ps--here is another article on the Priests for Life website

http://www.priestsforlife.org/library/4684-phil-medical-examiner-locks-out-pro-life-activists-demanding-bodies-of-gosnell-victims-for-burial
 

and here--in the aftermath