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Contact: Leslie Palma - 917-697-7039
The entire press conference can be seen here.
SOUTH BEND, IN -- The discovery of the bodies of 2,246 aborted babies in the Illinois home of late abortionist Dr. Ulrich Klopfer gives the nation an opportunity to reframe the debate on abortion, according to Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life.
“Revelations like this need to be a moment of healing for our nation,” Father Pavone said during a press conference today outside Klopfer’s shuttered clinic here, one of several in Indiana and in front of the Life Center right next door, where Klopfer had visited on a regular basis before his death.
The discovery of the babies “brings everybody face to face with the reality of what abortion is and the humanity of these children.”
Father Pavone said that when abortion is discussed in legislatures across the country, or in the U.S. House or Senate, or by candidates running for the Democratic nomination for president, the words “blood, arms, legs, bones, dismember, decapitate” are never uttered.
“Why are we pretending to debate an issue that we’re not willing to discuss because we don’t even want to name what it is,” he asked. “When we make this issue abstract, we have dehumanized ourselves and we are scared by the dehumanization that has taken place. We have to stop being afraid of these babies. To get out of this mess, we have to acknowledge the humanity of these babies.”
Father Pavone criticized South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg for a statement the presidential hopeful made about abortion, saying life does not begin until a baby takes a first breath.
“I’d like to see a speech by Mayor Pete where he uses any of these words,” he said. “You cannot dehumanize the children in the womb without dehumanizing yourself.”
Shawn Sullivan, a South Bend attorney whose efforts were instrumental in the state’s decision to strip Klopfer’s license in 2016, said pro-lifers often saw the abortionist loading boxes into his car. Since Klopfer had acknowledged aborting some 50,000 babies, “there could be a lot more finds,” he said.
Sullivan noted that the bodies will be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Indiana Attorney General’s office.
As efforts continue to ensure the babies receive a proper burial, Father Pavone announced that Priests for Life, the Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society have embarked on a project to name the babies and are asking for input from the public. Each organization will collect 748 names. To suggest a name for a baby, go to Preborn.Life
“By giving us all a chance to participate in this process, we rehumanize ourselves and we rehumanize our whole society,” Father Pavone said. “If we have the courage to face it now, we will indeed be going forward in building the culture of life.”
Priests for Life is the world’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated exclusively to ending abortion. For more information, visit www.EndAbortion.US.