102 Pro-life leaders across America signed this public
commitment,
which was run as a 2/3-page advertisement in the Catholic New York in May, 1996.
We, the undersigned, as leaders of the pro-life
movement in America, join together today to condemn the partial-birth abortion
procedure as an act that totally contradicts a civilized society. Furthermore,
President Clinton's April 10 veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act totally
contradicts the purpose of such a society's government, which is to care for and
protect human life.
We consistently oppose the destruction of all innocent human life. The
continuation of partial-birth abortion as a legal act in America, however,
should be a serious wake-up call to all citizens. If we cannot reject this as
wrong, what will we reject? If this does not disturb us, is there anything that
will?
In fact, a December 1995 Tarrance poll shows that 71% of Americans support a
ban of this procedure, as do 65% of self-avowed "pro-choice" voters.
We call for an end to the myth that partial-birth abortions can be necessary
for a woman's health. Expert testimony given in Congress states, "There are
absolutely no obstetrical situations encountered in this country which require a
partially delivered human fetus to be destroyed to preserve the life or health
of the mother" (Dr. Pamela Smith, Senate hearing record, p.82).
We commit ourselves to educate every American about partial-birth abortion
and to call them to a united response to end all destruction of innocent
persons.
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests For Life * Christopher
H. Casey, Executive Director, Campaign For The American Family * Beverly
LaHaye, President, Concerned Women for America * Eugene F. Diamond,
MD, President, American Association of, Pro-Life Pediatricians * Julia A.
Grimstad, Executive Director, The Center for the Rights of the, Terminally
Ill, Inc. (CRTI) * Maria McFadden, Executive Editor, Human Life Review *
Kay Zibolsky, Founder/President, Life After Assault League * Rachel
MacNair, Feminism & Nonviolence Studies Assoc. * Rev. John B. Brown,
President, National Pro-Life Religious Council * Marilyn Heigl, Executive
Director, Nat. Organization of, Episcopalians For Life * Joseph M. Scheidler,
Executive Director, Pro-Life Action league * Rev. Flip Benham, Director,
Operation Rescue National, * Jim Vittitow, Program Director, Pro-Life
Action Ministries * Mike McHugh, Director, American Rights Coalition *
Royce Dunn, President, Please Let Me Live, Director, National Life Chain *
Kevin L. Cunningham, Director, Youth For Life * Joan Andrews Bell,
Quo Vadis Rescue, Adoption Outreach, * Magaly Llaguno, Coordinator for
Latin America Human Life International * Elaine D. Cook,
Secretary/Treasurer, National Life Center, * Greg Schleppenbach, State
Director, Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-, Life Activities---Nebraska * Marie
Sheahan Brown, Respect Life Coordinator, Catholic Diocese of Sacramento *
Kent Peters, Director, Office for the, Social Apostolate, Diocese of Duluth
* Lawrence Breheny, Executive Director, Catholic Charities-Des Moines, IA
* Janet Krocheski, Director, Respect Life Programs, Archdiocese of St.
Paul and, Minneapolis * Deborah Stafford Shearer, Director, Respect Life,
Diocese of Orlando * Mark Lally, President, Ohio Right To Life Society *
Janet L. Folger, Legislative Director, Ohio Right To Life, * Vicki
DePalma, Director, Project Truth * Kevin J. Banet, President, Chicago
Affiliate, Catholics United for Life * Rev. Paul Chaim Schenck,
Minister-in-charge, Reformed Episcopal Church * Conrad Wojnar, Executive
Director, The Women's Centers of, Greater Chicagoland * Jerome B. Higgins,
Vice Chairman, LI Coalition For Life &, NYS RTL Committee * Kathleen Essex,
President, Defenders of Life * Rev. Robert L. Behn, Executive Director,
Last Call Ministries, * Russell Pond, Director, NH Pro-Life Council *
Gary R. Fisher, President, Life Matters Productions, Inc., * Ray Jamieson,
Salvation Pro-Life Group, * Anthony DeStefano, President, Catholics
United for the Faith, Staten Island, New York * O. W. Sailer, High Sierra
RTL Committee * Eileen M. Zeitler, Executive Director, A Better Choice,
Inc. * Vickie Mazur, Executive Director, Heartbeat of Monroe * James
F. Stapleton, President, St. Claire RTL * Fr. Denis R. Breton,
Pastor, Holy Cross Church * John W. Murphy, Vice President, Valusia Co.
RTL * Jan Smith, Director, Family Resources Center * Raymond H.
Szyperski, Vice President, Pro-Life Maryland *
Carl Scanga, Treasurer, Pennsylvanians for Human Life SW Region * Rev.
Bruce Evan Murch, Director, Christian Pro-Life Action Network (PLAN) *
Georgine A. Alt, RN, Executive Secretary, National Association of Pro-Life
Nurses * Joan Vitale, Client Services Director, Archway Pregnancy *
Beverly Searl, President, Wisconsin Right to Life - Fon Du Lac * Fr.
Richard Hogan, Associate Director, Priests For Life * Clarke D. Forsythe,
President, Americans United For Life * Bogomir M. Kuhar, Pharm. D.,
Executive Director, Pharmacists For Life Intl. * Keith A. Crutcher,
President, Scientists for Life * J. C. Willke, MD, President, Life Issues
Institute, Inc. * Dr. Theresa Burke, Founder, Center For Post Abortion
Healing * Carol Crossed, Executive Director, Seamless Garment Network *
Douglas R. Scott, President, Life Decisions International * Rev. Dr.
James I. Lamb, Executive Director, Lutherans For Life * Richard John
Neuhaus, President, Inst. On Religion & Public Life * Colleen Parro,
Director, Republican Nat. Coalition for Life * Hugh A. Pimentel,
President, St. Martin De Porres, Lay Dominican Community *
Philip J. Hulsman, MD, President, Women's Health Care * Scott
Klusendorf, Director of Education, Center for Bio-Ethical Reform * Bryan
Longworth, Founder, Youth For American National * Erica Lusch,
Assistant Director, Youth For Life * Christopher Bell, President, Good
Counsel, P.I.E.T.A. Ministries * Thomas M. Washiba, Utah Chapter Leader,
Human Life International * Raymond E. Drake, President, The American Soc.
For The Defense, Of Tradition, Family & Property * Judith A. Gorman,
Director, Off. Pro-Life Activities, Diocese of Buffalo, NY * Maggi
Fitzpatrick Nadol, RN, Respect Life coordinator, Catholic Diocese of
Charlotte * Donald J. Kazimir, Director, Respect Life Office, Diocese of
Palm Beach * Msgr. Robert L. Brown, Office for Pro-Life Activities,
Diocese of Norwich * Monika M. Rodman, Coordinator, Respect Life
Ministry, Diocese of Oakland * Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, Mother
Superior, Sisters of Life, Sister Rosario, Sister Mary Kolbe Larson SV,
Sister John Joseph SV, Sister Simeon Marie SV, Sister Loretto Michael Creed SV,
Sister Margaret Robbins SV, Sister Francis Mary SV, Sister Josamarie Perpetua
SV, Sister Maria Dolorosa, * Barbara Braun, Vice President, Rockland Co.
Catholic Coalition * Dave & Susan Brindle, Vice Presidents, Precious Life
Books * Daniel J. Lynch, Director, The Missionary Image of,
Our Lady of Guadalupe * Karen Wubbels, Bethany House Publishers * Geri
Urrutia, Director, Shield of Roses * Helen Cindrich, Executive
Director, People Concerned for the, Unborn Child * Sylvia J. Mobley,
Executive Director, Human Development Resource Council * Ed & Ann Carbin, Jim
& Pat Sheils, Co-Chairmen, RTL, St. Matthew the Apostle Parish * Rod
Murphy, Chairman, Problem Pregnancy of Worcester, Inc * Ruben Obregon,
National Director, Catholic Justice Network * Pauline M. Cinquini,
Director, Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office * Edward V. Clarke,
Director, Pro-Life Associates * Dana C. Janssen, Interim Director,
Corvallis Pregnancy Care Center * Alice De Rycke, President, Poweshick
Iowa County RTL * Eleanor L. Ruder, Executive Director, The Bridge To
Life Inc. * Arthur L. Brestel, President, RTL of Central KY * John
Schmidt, Founder, Democrats for Life * Margie Montgomery, Executive
Director, Kentucky Right to Life Association * Letty W. Barzee, Right to
Life * Hank Culbertson, Treasurer, Right to Life * Craig Bozzacco,
D.D.S., President, Dentists for Life * Robert Pardon, Executive Director,
Rose of Sharon Life Center *
Patricia McGugan, Burlington County Right to Life