Gosnell Trial Draws Anti-Abortion Protests Outside Philadelphia Courthouse
By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Members of the local pro-life community were outside Philadelphia's Criminal Justice Center today to call attention to the trial of abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell going on inside (see related story).
Some were accusing the Pennsylvania Department of Health of complicity in the alleged crimes. Others were calling for a ban on all abortions.
Surrounded by silent protesters holding signs, the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition in Washington, DC, said he came to Philadelphia "to pray for justice, the victims, and to stand for justice and human rights and clinic regulations and inspections."
Mahoney contends that the alleged conditions at Gosnell's clinic were due to a lack of governmental oversight of abortion facilities.
But Planned Parenthood CEO Dayle Steinberg says things have changed even since the Gosnell case came to light.
"We're very glad that the Department of Health has started giving regular inspections," she told KYW Newsradio today. "We welcome that."
Pennsylvania Department of Health spokesperson Amee Tysarczyk agrees that changes were made as a result of the Gosnell case, which will go to the jury this week.
"The events that resulted in the Gosnell trial are indisputably deplorable," she said, "but today we have tougher regulations and new leadership at the department. Abortion facilities are being held to higher standards."
