WEST VIRGINIANS FOR LIFE CONDEMNS ABORTION CLINIC BOMBINGS

For Immediate Release: Monday, January 20, 1997

Recent bombings of buildings housing abortion clinics are deplorable and reprehensible. West Virginians for Life (WVFL) and the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), strongly condemns this action. No sane pro-life person could be involved in such an act; violence only hurts the cause of the unborn child. We ask all people who want to save unborn children to join in using peaceful, legal means to bring an end to abortion.

David N. O'Steen, Ph.D., NRLC executive director, stated, "NRLC strongly opposes any use of violence as a means of stopping the violence that has killed more than 35 million unborn children since 1973. The goal of National Right to Life is to break the cycle of violence which includes abortion, not perpetuate it."

The National Right to Life Committee has always been involved in peaceful, legal activities to protect human lives threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. We have always, and continue to, oppose any form of violence to fight the violence of abortion. NRLC has a policy of forbidding violence (or any illegal activity) by its staff, directors, officers, affiliated state organizations and chapters. NRLC's sole purpose is to protect human life.

West Virginians for Life, the state affiliate to the National Right to Life Committee, is the only single-issue pro-life organization in West Virginia. "We represent the pro-life citizens of this state and declare that we deplore the recent acts of violence at abortion clinics," stated Charlotte Snead, M.S.W., WVFL President. "Violence is in direct contradiction to our pro-life position. Pro-lifers value all human life, desiring that those who work in the abortion industry join with numerous former abortion providers who have abandoned their former professions. The One Who has called us to defend life has commanded us to return evil with good, and to pray for those who oppose us."

It is false and offensive to suggest, as some pro-abortion groups have done, that speaking in favor of the right to life somehow causes violence. Such a suggestion is like blaming the civil rights movement--and all those who courageously spoke in favor of the rights of African Americans--for the riots or deaths that were a part of that era.

NRLC and WVFL will continue to work in educational, legislative and political activities to ensure the right to life for unborn children, people with disabilities and older people. We will also continue to work for peaceful solutions to social problems. These solutions involve helping women and their children and do not involve violence against anyone.