Philadelphia, PA (LifeNews.com) -- An abortion business in Pennsylvania is drawing criticism or giving away free abortions on Tuesday in honor of slain late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller. The Philadelphia Women's Center said the free abortions were meant to show appreciation for Tiller, who was allegedly killed by extremist gunman Scott Roeder.

Town Hall columnist Jillian Bandes said a staff member at the abortion center said an unspecified number of free abortions were done yesterday for Tiller's “memory and legacy.”

However, by the end of the day, the center stopped doing free abortions and indicated it wouldn't likely do it again.

"She also said that there had not been free abortion giveaways in the past, and that there were no plans to give any away in the future. Under normal circumstances, abortions would not be au gratis at the clinic," Bandes writes.

Bandes quoted Charmaine Yoest, the head of Americans United for Life, as condemning the free abortion idea.

“It’s really sad that they would give away for free without recognizing that in an emotional sense the abortion is very costly,”

Elizabeth Barnes, the director of the abortion center, recently talked bashed pro-life advocates following the Tiller killing and attempted to make it appear that it was supported by the pro-life movement in reaction to political losses in the presidential election.

"When the pendulum swung in the direction of protecting women's rights, we expected something. The way the antis are reacting has changed, they're taking more liberties, pressing the boundaries of legal, civil protest," she said.

Operation Rescue president Troy Newman also condemned the free abortions and said they only injured women and killed children.

"There seems to be no comprehension of the value of human life with these people. Killing babies for free to honor someone who was murdered can only be described as sick," he told LifeNews.com.

"There is no such thing as a 'free abortion,'" said Newman. "It costs the life of an innocent baby and puts the women at risk for increased problems in their lives. The loss of each innocent life diminishes us all."

"If the people running that abortion clinic really wanted to help women, they would follow the Tiller family's example and close their clinic for good," he said.

Ironically, Tiller himself once offered free late-term abortions to his customers.

In January 2004, Tiller commemorated the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, allowing virtually unlimited abortions throughout pregnancy, by offering free abortions.

He said he did so "to draw attention to the increasing pressure being placed on abortion rights," in an interview at the time.

According to Mary Kay Culp, Executive Director of Kansans for Life, Tiller and his associates performed 18 free abortions for women on Medicaid in January 2002. Tiller had done free abortions every year for 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Related web sites:
Kansans for Life - http://www.kfl.org

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