How can these people show these disgusting images?Why we're here
We are not here today to judge or condemn anyone. In fact, we are very aware
of the difficult circumstances that lead people to have abortions, and we are
deeply involved in the work of healing those who have participated in abortion.
We are here to educate the public about what abortion is. Although we have
had a national debate on abortion for over 30 years, in another sense the debate
has not yet begun. While abortion is the most common surgery in America, most
Americans have never seen what it looks like. Once people do see it, they can
never forget.
But children shouldn't see these images
Please note that our target audience is not children, but adults who do not
realize how horrifying abortion is. Yet it is not possible to completely avoid
having children see the images.
The problem of children being upset is a concern of ours, too. But the
problem of children being dismembered is an even greater concern. We are faced
with a situation in which stopping the killing involves upsetting the living.
Which do you care more about?
Our activity here saves children's lives. Children may get upset, for
example, when the sirens of fire engines, ambulances, or police cars come into
their neighborhood. But we comfort them by explaining that people are being
helped and lives are being saved. We have all had to explain hard things to our
children, such as the events of September 11. The images themselves don't harm
children, particularly when they have parents who take the time to answer their
questions. In fact, we have had parents bring their children to participate in
showing the images to the public! And the children do so with pride.
We believe in handling first things first. Let's stop the killing of our
children by abortion. Then we can comfort the survivors.
It's real
Some people question whether these images are real. These are actual photos
of aborted babies who were either found in dumpsters at abortion clinics, or
were aborted in facilities that allowed us to come in and photograph the
remains. Medical doctors have authenticated the veracity of these images. See
www.priestsforlife.org/images
to read their signed statements.
It's historical
Social reform movements throughout history have used images to show people
the injustice they were fighting. Those who stopped the slave trade showed
pictures of the slave ships; those who reformed child labor laws showed pictures
of the children in the factories and mines; civil rights leaders insisted that
the public witness the brutality committed against Blacks. Disturbing pictures
are likewise used to dissuade children from crime, drunk driving, and smoking,
or to educate them about the Holocaust. Other movements that use pictures
include the animal rights, anti-war, anti-hunger, and environmentalist
movements.
It's legal
This activity is fully protected by the First Amendment. Free speech, the
Supreme Court has said, often achieves its purpose precisely when it is
upsetting to people (see Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15, 21 (1971)
(viewers who dislike a message have a responsibility to "avoid further
bombardment of their sensibilities simply by averting their eyes);
Terminiello v. City of Chicago, 337 U.S. 1, 3 (1949) (free speech "may
indeed best serve its high purpose when it induces a condition of unrest,
creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, or even stirs people to
anger"). Except for very rare circumstances, the Constitution prevents
government from prohibiting speech because of its content. Nor do images of
aborted fetuses meet the legal definition of "obscenity." Courts throughout the
nation have upheld the rights of pro-life people to show these disturbing
images. (See US District Court, W. District of Michigan, cases 02-73058 and
4:01-CV-172.)
It's necessary
Why, you might ask, don't we use other methods to educate people? In fact, we
do. We write, lecture, and have TV and radio programs. We go into schools, teach
abstinence, and provide alternatives to abortion. But words alone cannot convey
the horror of abortion. "Seeing is believing," and the ancient Chinese proverb
states, "A picture paints ten thousand words." Right now, the public streets are
about the only place where we can show people what an abortion is. Normally,
schools, TV stations, newspapers, magazines, and Churches will not allow these
images to be shown.
It works
People who see these images never feel the same about abortion again. These
pictures save lives, convert minds and hearts, and break through the denial that
allows abortion to continue in this country. Here are some quotes:
"Thank you for making those graphics available. I used to think that I
supported abortions, but after seeing those pics, I recognize what a fool I have
been."
"Today, I saw your website with the photos of the aborted babies and wept.
I have always been anti-abortion … However, like many of the uninformed masses,
abortion was something abstract, impersonal yet immoral. Your web site has
changed my view of abortion forever."
"I really, really, really want to thank you for showing the pictures on
abortions. I’m 34 years old and I’ve never seen pictures of babies that have
been aborted. It’s a possible chance that I may be pregnant, but at first I said
I already have 3 children and I don’t need another one! Abortion was on my
fiancé's and on my mind. …If I am still pregnant, this baby I will have. Now I
can show him the pictures!"
It's up to you
If photos of abortion are too upsetting to look at, then abortion itself
should be too upsetting to tolerate! We need your help to bring abortion to an
end! If these photos move you to get more involved, please contact us at Priests
for Life, PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314. You can download your own
copies of these images at
www.priestsforlife.org/images. The next move is yours.
Alternatives to abortion: 1-800-848-LOVE
Healing after abortion: 1-800-HOPE-4-ME
[Back to Face the Truth photo album]
