News

October 25, 2009

Activists gather to support human life

Director says Scranton chosen for event due to its reputation as ‘pro-life capital of the U.S.’

RALPH NARDONE Times Leader Correspondent

SCRANTON – Several hundred pro-life activists gathered at the Hilton Conference Center in Scranton on Saturday. Sponsored by the Scranton Chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life in concert with the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, the event included exhibitors, speakers and medical professionals all with a common fervor to protect human life.

Maria Vitale, education director of the federation based in Harrisburg, said the event was held in Scranton because of its “legendary status” as the pro-life capital of the United States. She anticipated about 400 visitors to attend what she called a celebration of 30 years of good work for the federation and 35 years for Scranton’s chapter.

Vitale said about 36,000 abortions per year take place in Pennsylvania which is significantly lower than what it would be without the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act of 1994 and initiatives from nonprofit organizations to educate and support pregnant women.

She called the current political environment “challenging” adding the pro-life movement is “alive and well in Pennsylvania.”

James Minicozzi, board member from the Scranton chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, lauded the late Gov. Robert Casey as the spearhead for the local pro-life base. Casey gave the movement its power on the state and federal level, he said.

Minicozzi stresses the majority of pro-life supporters are not “radicals” but more like watchdogs fighting for the unborn and elderly who may face abortion or euthanasia.

He feels the pro-life effort will remain strong in northeast Pennsylvania since most of the population and local government officials support it.

Helen Gohsler, president of the Scranton chapter, took issue with Mayor Chris Doherty who recently declared his position as pro-abortion. She displayed previous proclamations from the mayor dated in 2002 and 2003 where he held a pro-life stance.

She said the mayor changed his position because of his gubernatorial ambitions. Most politicians who want to climb the ranks of the Democratic Party are forced into a pro-abortion position, she added. “It’s despicable.”

John Ritchie, an event exhibitor from TFP (Tradition, Family, and Property) Student Action organization, said pro-life is fighting against President Barack Obama’s extreme pro-abortion position.

Ritchie also pointed to gay marriage as another sign of how traditional family values are being attacked.

Event speakers included Phill Kline, former Attorney General of Kansas who prosecuted Dr. George Tiller, the infamous abortion doctor who was reputed to perform abortions for minors, and Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terry Schiavo, who talked about his battle to save her life, and David Prentice, Ph.D., from the family research council, who discussed developments with adult stem cells that could eliminate the use for embryonic stem cells.

According to Prentice, awareness of adult stem cell research is lacking in the medical profession because physicians avoid it. He said there are more than 70 different diseases that are documented as curable through the use of adult stem cells, including some forms of cancer or paralysis.

The event included exhibitors, speakers and medical professionals.

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