Click here to listen!
NCRegister
  National Catholic Register  
11.20.09

A generous donor will DOUBLE donations to the Register up to $240,000 through November 28.

Donate Now

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION

Click to donate

GIVE BEFORE this matching offer ends!

Learn more

For information about the Register's ANNUAL FUND Drive, click here

Last 7 Days 30 Days

 
DAILY UMBERT

EMAIL SIGN UP

Receive our free email updates!

Sign up below


As part of this free service, you will receive occasional special offers.





Print Article | Email Article | Write To Us | Support Us  

Pro-Life Advocate Shot in Michigan

Share

Posted by Tim Drake

Friday, September 11, 2009 11:10 AM

The The Flint Journal is reporting that longtime pro-life advocate James Pouillon was shot and killed in front of Owosso High School this morning. 

“We do not know the motive yet. But this is a time to console one another, and to renew our determination to organize peaceful protests,” said Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life. “It is no time for fear. And I am waiting to hear the abortion advocates condemn this killing.”

A suspect was taken into custody shortly after the shooting.

Contrary to secular media reports, there’s a fair amount of violence perpetrated by abortion advocates - in addition to the violence done to the unborn - against pro-life advocates. That story is told in this Register story. Here’s an excerpt:

Ed Snell, of Harrisburg, Pa., knows a thing or two about the violence typically found at abortion businesses — violence directed not at abortion advocates, but at those opposing abortion. On Dec. 22, 2007, Snell, then 69 years old, was atop his car, attempting to sidewalk counsel over an 8-foot-high fence next door to the Hillcrest Women’s Medical Center.
One young couple walked up, and Snell attempted to share information with them about the link between abortion and breast cancer.

“The young man became enraged,” said John McTernan, who witnessed what happened. “He leaped over the fence, landed on top of Ed’s car and violently pushed Ed off the car. Ed went headfirst off the car.”

Snell was knocked unconscious, sustained cracked vertebrae, broken ribs and collarbone, a cracked skull, and bleeding on the brain. He spent the next two days in the hospital, a month at home in bed, and a year of doctor visits.

“When he hit the top of the car, he caught me under my jaw,” said Snell. “I landed eight feet from the car.”
Snell’s been active in the pro-life movement for 20 years.

“I’m used to intimidation,” said Snell. “If you breathe hard on someone or bump someone with your elbow, you’re going to jail. This was the most violent thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Undeterred, Snell continues to show up at the abortion business three days a week. Now, instead of climbing atop his car, he speaks to clients through a crack in the fence.

“I won’t go up on top of my car again,” said Snell. “That was too traumatic for my family.”
Representatives from the various pro-life organizations told the Register that they have commonly encountered violence by those who support abortion.
“Cars have swerved to intimidate us,” said Carney. “People scream and yell obscenities.”
“On numerous occasions abortion workers have threatened to assault us and run us over,” said McTernan.
Brian Gibson, director of the St. Paul, Minn.-based Pro-Life Action Ministries, agreed, saying that he’s been personally assaulted by Planned Parenthood workers who have pushed and shoved him, as well being arrested on false charges.
In December, while trying to sidewalk counsel a couple, Gibson was shoved by the male, and later arrested. The case was later dropped.
“We’ve always been nonviolent in word and deed,” said Gibson. “I’ve never touched anyone and I won’t. The thousands of hours we’ve been in front of abortion businesses there has never been an instance of violence on our part. In the history of our organization 2,500 babies have been saved.”

Advertisement
Advertisement

Make a Donation now!

Insightful. Informative. Uncompromisingly faithful. The National Catholic Register is more than a newspaper. It’s a cause. Your support for the Register funds important journalism that helps to build a Culture of Life in our nation, and throughout the world. Help us promote the Church’s New Evangelization by donating to the National Catholic Register right now.

Click here to donate

Current Issue

Important News for Register Subscribers. Click here for details.

You must login for access to articles that are marked For Subscribers Only.

If you subscribe to the print edition, register here to get a Username and Password.

Not a Subscriber? Click here to try
4 Issues FREE!

Now you can subscribe to the digital edition of the Register! Save 29% off the print edition price! Click here for details.








Click here to listen!