Pro-lifers Lay Hundreds of Flowers At Closed Late-term Abortion Mill

June 20, 2009 By 4 Comments

UPDATE: Photos for “A Time for Healing…A Time for Life” Event are now available. CLICK HERE TO VIEW.

Wichita, KS – Undeterred by heavy rains throughout the day and threats of disruption by abortion supporters, pro-lifers gathered Saturday evening at the now-closed late-term abortion clinic once operated by George Tiller for a memorial and prayer service.

Under skies that had temporarily cleared, a group of about 35 people laid hundreds of flowers at the clinic in honor of the babies and the women injured and killed there. The group offered prayers for peace and healing for the Tiller family and the community.

Members of a local pro-abortion group that threatened to disrupt the memorial service with Fred Phelps-style tactics were nowhere to be seen.

“This was never about confrontation. It was about praying for peace and healing. The abortion folks couldn’t respect that, so we changed our plans,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “Instead, the day turned out better than we could have hoped.”

In order to avoid disruption, the pro-lifers rescheduled their day and instead gathered at noon at Operation Rescue’s National Headquarters, which was an abortion clinic before OR bought the building and evicted the abortion business. Prayers were offered and hundreds of flowers were laid at the site. They also conducted a similar service at a second location where an abortion business once stood and at Wesley Medical Center where at least one abortion patient, 19-year old Christin Gilbert, died from complications to a third trimester abortion recieved at Tiller’s clinic in 2005.

In the evening, the group, led by Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, gathered outside Tiller’s former abortion clinic and prayed, sang hymns, and placed the flowers. There was no sign of any opposition.

The signs that once identified the large stucco structure as an abortion clinic had been removed.

Currently, there are no facilities offering abortions in Wichita, making the city abortion-free for the first time since abortion was decriminalized in 1973.

“We pray that now all members of the community, no matter where they stand on abortion, can begin the healing process. There’s been enough death in this city,” said Newman. “We pray that now Wichita can be known of a place of healing and hope.”

VIEW EVENT PHOTOS (Note: The thumbnails in the gallery crop the photos. Click the thumbnails to view the full photo or to view the photos in a slideshow format.)

Filed Under: A Time for Healing Event, Press Releases Tagged With: , , , , ,

UPDATE: Pro-Life Groups Move Location of Saturday Prayer and Memorial Service in Wichita, Kansas

June 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The memorial and prayer service will still take place on Saturday, June 20, at 12:00 PM at 3013 East Central Ave. in Wichita.

WICHITA, Kansas, June 19 /Christian Newswire/ — Pro-life groups move the location of Saturday prayer and memorial service in Wichita, Kansas.

The groups made the change after the National Organization for Women (NOW) decided to disrupt the solemnity of the memorial service with a counter demonstration.

The pro-life leaders did not want NOW to ruin the sacredness of the memorial with their hateful Fred Phelps like tactics.

The memorial and prayer service will still take place on Saturday, June 20, at 12:00 P.M.

The new location will be at 3013 East Central Ave. in Wichita, near the office of Operation Rescue.

Participants will leave 1,500 flowers at the Central location to honor the 70,000 children that died at Dr. Tiller’s clinic and then they will walk to Wesley Hospital and leave 1,500 flowers to celebrate new life, justice and human rights in Wichita.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Washington, D.C. based Christian Defense Coalition, states, “It is shameful that the National Organization for Women would disrupt a prayer vigil and memorial service for women and children with a counter demonstration. It seems they are taking a page out of the playbook of hatemonger Fred Phelps with their disturbing actions.

“Our goal was simply to conduct a prayer vigil and memorial to remember and honor the 70,000 innocent lives that were lost at Dr. Tiller’s clinic and work for social justice and pray for an end to violence in Wichita.

“Sadly, NOW decided to show utter contempt for a religious and solemn service and decided to disrupt it. We are thankful that the pro-life community showed respect for Dr. Tiller and his family and chose not to disrupt or demonstrate at his memorial service.”

For more information or interviews call:

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 540.538.4741

Filed Under: A Time for Healing Event, Press Releases

Operation Rescue Reveals Threats of Violence Against Staff

June 19, 2009 By 1 Comment

“We will not succumb to fear or be intimidated into silence.”

Wichita, KS – Today the Wichita Eagle ran a front-page story about threats of violence against Operation Rescue and other pro-life groups. We have posted it below for your convenience.

“We refuse to cower to these threats and have reported them to the appropriate authorities,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “We will not succumb to fear or be intimidated into silence.”

Linked below is an audio file and a PDF file with a sampling of some of the threats that have literally flooded our in boxes and voicemail. We are posting the names and e-mail addresses of some who have e-mailed us. If they are going to make threats like this, they should be ready to have everyone know they did it.

Caution: Strong and offensive language

• Sample of Audio Threats
• Sample of E-mailed Threats

“In spite of threats against us, we will be reaching out to the community this weekend to pray for peace and memorialize those who have succumbed to abortion violence, both inside and outside the womb,” said Newman.

Operation Rescue is taking extraordinary security precautions to insure the safety of all participants, including hiring off-duty Wichita Police officers.

“Let’s show the world that, as Christians, we will not shirk back in fear, but will boldly proclaim the Gospel of Peace and Reconciliation, as our Lord commands,” said Newman.

CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
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Abortion opponents receive death threats
By Tim Potter, The Wichita Eagle
June 19, 2009

Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, says the number of threats has increased since the slaying of George Tiller.

Three Wichita-based anti-abortion groups say they have received death threats in response to last month’s killing of George Tiller.

For years, Operation Rescue has received threats, but the number increased markedly after Tiller’s killing, the group’s president, Troy Newman, said Thursday.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: A Time for Healing Event Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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