Naming the Gosnell Babies

Nombrando a los bebés de Gosnell

 
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
Publication Date: June 03, 2013


The trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell is about much more than the man himself. In a painful way, it brings America face to face with abortion, which, as the defense argued, is "bloody" and "real."

For those who have had abortions, it brings them again in touch with a pain that is never really far away, and it brings them in touch yet again with their need for healing. This is especially true when we see what the Gosnell case has confronted us with: bodies of babies in bags and cartons in the freezer, severed feet in jars, some 45 babies retrieved in a raid on the clinic and entrusted to the Philadelphia Medical Examiner.

As Pastoral Director of the world's largest ministry for healing after abortion, Rachel's Vineyard, as well as of the largest mobilization of those who speak out about their abortions, the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, I have accompanied countless mothers and fathers on their journeys of healing. And I have presided over the burials of many aborted babies.

One of the key moments of that journey of healing after abortion is when the parents name their child. The moment is powerful and freeing. Up until then, the child was a victim of de-humanization. Before we can kill, we have to dehumanize. "This is not a child,” we lie to ourselves; or we say, "This is not a child for whom I am responsible right now.” In these or a thousand other ways, a veil of dehumanization covers the child; a chasm is introduced between that child's humanity and our awareness of our need to respond to it with an unconditional acknowledgement and acceptance. But the time is not right, the burden too great, and so we keep any semblance of the child's humanity as far away from our consciousness as we can.

And that is where the power of the name comes in.

People have names. One of the first things we do when coming into the presence of another person -- or even learning about their existence when apart from their presence -- is to inquire as to their name. The name expresses the person, it invites the presence of the person, it both calls and welcomes the person, it acknowledges that there is something in common between the person and ourselves, and hence in receiving their name we offer our own.

In the case of Dr. Gosnell, we have heard of the 45 babies retrieved from the clinic. And we have read the Grand Jury Report and heard the witnesses speak of "Baby Boy A," "Baby Boy B," Baby C, D, E, F and G.

But now it's time, in our collective journey through this nightmare, to connect with these children more directly. It's time to name the children. We have no evidence that anyone else has given them a name or was interested in giving them a name. In fact, these babies were brought to an abortion facility to be killed and then thrown away. The fact that their parents abandoned them does not give us permission to do so. "Though father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me," Scripture tells us (Psalm 27:10). "I have called you by name, you are mine," the Lord says (Isaiah 43:1). As Pope John Paul II wrote, "God … has entrusted the life of every individual to his or her fellow human beings, brothers and sisters" (Evangelium Vitae, 76). From the point of view, then, that we are one human family called into being by God, these children are also ours. And that's why we can name them when nobody else has.

This is what Priests for Life has done. On Ascension Thursday, May 9, 2013, a simple ceremony was held in the chapel at the headquarters of Priests for Life in Staten Island, NY. We heard the Word of God, prayed for these babies, their families, and those who participated in their deaths. And we then named them. I chose the name "Adam" for "Baby Boy A," simply as a reminder that Adam, the first man ever created, reminds us that in each man -- and in each child -- all humanity is somehow represented, and that our response to that one person, whether acceptance or rejection, shapes our response to every person. I named "Baby Boy B" Michael, to remind us of the struggle between good and evil that rages in our culture and in our own mind and heart as we choose how we will respond to each person.

Most of the other names are gender-neutral, since we do not have information on the genders of most of the babies.

Moreover, the naming ceremony took place on this Feast of the Ascension, for on that day, the humanity that the Lord Jesus took to the heights of heaven is the same human nature shared by all of us -- rich and poor, healthy and sick, born and unborn -- and by all these babies. We remembered all the babies killed by Dr. Gosnell, well beyond those found in his clinic, as well as the over 50 million children killed across America since Roe vs. Wade declared they were not persons.

The names we gave to the 45 babies follow. We invite you to pray for them and their families, and for Dr. Gosnell and his staff. We look forward, once receiving permission of the Medical Examiner, to give these children a proper funeral and burial.

Names of the Gosnell Babies

From the Grand Jury Report: "The Philadelphia medical examiner analyzed the remains of 45 fetuses seized from the clinic. Of these, 16 were first-trimester; 25 were second-trimester, ranging from 12 to 21 weeks; 2 were 22 weeks; 1 was 26 weeks; and 1 was 28 weeks."

Baby Adam (Baby Boy A, aborted at seven and a half months, six pounds weight)

Baby Michael (Baby Boy B, killed at 28 weeks)

Baby Alex (Baby C, breathed for 20 minutes after delivery.)

Baby Chris (Baby D -- Was delivered into the toilet and was seen swimming there.)

Baby Andy (Baby E -- This baby was heard to whine.)

Baby Lou (Baby F -- This baby's leg jerked and moved after being delivered.)

Baby Pat (Baby G)

Baby Joshua
Baby David
Baby Ashley
Baby Sal
Baby Terry
Baby Sam
Baby Val
Baby Tony
Baby Ronnie
Baby Sarah
Baby Melanie
Baby Sandy
Baby Corey
Baby Drew
Baby Ryan
Baby Toby
Baby Sean
Baby Kelly
Baby Carroll
Baby Joseph
Baby Benjamin
Baby Stacey
Baby Gabriel
Baby Brett
Baby Julian
Baby Taylor
Baby Courtney
Baby Danny
Baby Kim
Baby Mandy
Baby Robin
Baby Austin
Baby Abel
Baby Michelle
Baby Lisa
Baby Shannon
Baby Nevin
Baby Connor


See their Affirmation of Life Certificates on Facebook

Fr. Frank's Homily given at the naming service of the Gosnell Babies, May 9, 2013 (audio)

Watch a video playlist of the footage taken at the naming service, including Fr. Frank's homily and the bestowing of the names, May 9, 2013 (video)

Press release following the service: ‘Who are these children, and whose are these children’

 


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14 Comments
Dirtdartwife says:
5/11/2013 9:40:14 PM
As a port abortive mother myself, I know the importance of naming a child. My heart bawls with this entire story, and m soul cries hard because I see those pictures of the babies and I just want to hold them. The baby with the slit in his neck now shares the same name as my one year old and I can't help but hold my baby closer. May all these babies pray for us now, and thank you Fr. Pavone, for doing this.

Paula J. Fletcher says:
5/11/2013 12:49:14 AM
Praise the Lord, and thank you, Father, for giving these babies the human dignity that they deserve. I have read each name aloud as well, asking the Lord to allow them to play with my great nieces and grandchildren, ALL of whom were VERY, VERY, WANTED. As I mourn the babies in my family that God took while in their mothers' wwombs, and shortly after, so I mourn not only the Gosnell Babies, but ALL of the victims of abortion, children AND parents. May God allow us to win the fight to end this heinous practice.

Diane Helmold says:
5/9/2013 5:15:37 PM

Father Frank,
Thank you!
Thank you for caring!
Thank you for caring enough to do something about these atrocities!
I love the idea of naming the little ones! I will pray for you and the little innocent lives who were not given a chance to live.
We must stop this.
You are the BEST!!!

Kathy Smith says:
5/9/2013 4:21:52 PM
Thank you for honoring the lost lives of these precious little babies. They now have identities and a special place in my heart and each little name has given me more courage to fight to end this horrible practice.

Jadwiga Zubrzycka says:
5/9/2013 4:15:23 PM
God bless you Fr. Frank for what you did for these babies, I am sure they are all praying for you! May God grant an end to this terrible abortion holocast.

elizabeth says:
5/9/2013 1:32:11 PM
God Bless you for this worthy & inspirational endeavor.
Thank you for the gift of allowing us a path to mourn
our loss of these children.

Eternal rest grant unto these innocents.
Amen

VAL says:
5/9/2013 1:24:47 PM
Thank you father! All these babies are my angels, especially the one named "VAL."

Ronnie & Tony Kull says:
5/9/2013 12:49:06 PM
Thank you, Fr. Frank, for naming the babies. They are Jesus' and ours. God bless you -- for your ministry, your courage and your direction. And for taking a lead in Philadelphia in raising awareness.

Kevin J. Brewer says:
5/9/2013 12:15:52 PM
Thank you, Father Frank, for having a naming ceremony for these dear little ones.

Rita Smith, M.E.V. says:
5/9/2013 10:57:40 AM
God bless you, Fr. Pavone for naming the aborted babies from Gosnell's House of Horror's. Psalm 139 we pray for the babies made in the image and likeness of God. They are not garbage and truly deserve the dignity of a Christian burial. On Ascension Thursday what a profound significance of the 40 days after Christ's Resurrection to name the babies. 40 years of Gosnell's murdering, 40 weeks of pregnancy and 40 Days for Life continuously held in our Phila. Archdiocese, country and internationally.

    


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