Eric Rudolph: I Bombed to Stop Abortion, Pro-Lifers Disagree

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 13, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Eric Rudolph: I Bombed to Stop Abortion, Pro-Lifers Disagree Email this article
Printer friendly page

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 13, 2005

Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) — Eric Rudolph released an 11 page statement yesterday related to the four bombings for which he is slated to receive four life terms in prison. In it, he discusses his views against government and homosexuality and claims to have planted the bombs at abortion businesses to stop abortions.

"Abortion is murder. And when the regime in Washington legalized, sanctioned and legitimized this practice, they forfeited their legitimacy and moral authority to govern," he said.

Rudolph took the pro-life movement to task for not engaging in similar acts of violence. He called those who favor education, legislation or political action to stop abortion "hypocrites" and "liars."

"Because I believe that abortion is murder, I also believe that force is justified and in an attempt to stop it," he said.

That’s the point at which Jim Pinto, a local pro-life leader in Birmingham, the site of one abortion facility bombing, says Rudolph is out of step with the pro-life community.

"Let us be clear once and for all that he was never pro-life," Pinto said in response to the statement.

Rudolph’s actions "made it clear that he was in no way associated with the Pro-life Movement except that his actions were the direct opposite of it," Pinto, founder of Sanctity of Life Ministries, explained.

"The Pro-Life Movement condemns the use of violence to overcome the violence of abortion," Pinto explained.

"We renounce violence in thought, word and deed and proclaim the sacredness and dignity of every human being from the moment of conception until natural death," Pinto added. "This sacredness and dignity of the human person extends to all people in and out of the womb, friend and foe alike."

Rudolph indicated he would not apologize to the family of Robert Sanderson or to Emily Lyons, the security guard and abortion business staff member who were victims of the Birmingham blast.

"I have no regrets or remorse for my actions that day in January, and consider what happened morally justified

Pinto, however, extended his condolences to the Sanderson family and Emily Lyons. He said Lyons’ husband told him that he never though the bombing was perpetrated by a pro-life group or person.