Gosnell case triggers opinions on both sides of abortion aisle

For decades, the depravity of Kermit Gosnell's abortion clinic went unchecked. Agencies charged with ensuring public safety ignored mounting evidence of atrocities, according to the grand jury that charged the elderly physician with murder, because they were too squeamish to tackle the political football of abortion.

But now - especially with today being the 38th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion - everyone wants to play football. Since the grand jury's nausea-inducing report came out Wednesday, everyone with an opinion on abortion has volunteered it.

Predictably, anti-abortionists say that Gosnell's gruesome practice highlights their belief that abortion is murder. Pro-choicers stick to their talking points: That abortion done by a competent professional, is a safe, common procedure that shouldn't be demonized because of one barbarian.

In their words:

* Curtiss Hannum, director of center affairs and development, Philadelphia Women's Center: "Abortion is safe when performed in facilities that maintain high standards of care and value the women they serve. . . . Dr. Gosnell did not hurt women because he provided abortions; he hurt women because he practiced outside of the law and in unsafe, substandard, deplorable medical conditions."

* David O'Steen, executive director of National Right to Life: "This tragic report once again reminds us that the purpose of each abortion - no matter how it is performed - is to deliberately and brutally take at least one innocent human life."

* Carol Tracy, executive director of the Women's Law Project of Philadelphia: "Our laws should support the provision of safe abortion care, not stigmatize the procedure and the women who seek it and push it into the hands of marginal practitioners who threaten and endanger women's lives."

* Archdiocese of Philadelphia: "The repeated actions of Dr. Gosnell and his staff were abhorrent and intrinsically evil in their disregard for the lives of the unborn and the welfare of the women who sought their services."

* Dayle Steinberg, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania: "Medicaid, the health-insurance program for low-income Americans, will not pay for abortion care in Pennsylvania except in very limited circumstances. It's a heartbreaking reality that without insurance coverage, women who need to end their pregnancies consider cost as the determining factor."

_ The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life: "Having dealt for 30 years with the abortion industry and abortionists, both practicing and converted, I am not in the least surprised by this development, and neither should the American people be surprised. . . . There is a silver lining to the cloud of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, namely, that we will finally wake up to what is happening."

Meanwhile, anti-abortion activists head into their annual March for Life rallies today sensing a prime opportunity in many states to rein in the broad abortion access Roe v. Wade established.

Foes of abortion are buoyed by huge election gains in November for their allies in Congress, among state governors and in many legislatures, raising hopes among social conservatives for a broad surge of anti-abortion bills.

Activists have particularly high hopes for three types of bills being considered in several states:

* Measures like a Nebraska law passed last year that outlaws abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, based on the assertion that fetuses feel pain after that point. That's two to four weeks less time than generally allowed.

* Bills requiring women to have an ultrasound before an abortion.

* Laws prohibiting abortion coverage in health-insurance plans offered by the new state exchanges that are to commence in 2014 under President Obama's health-care overhaul. Five states passed such measures last year; more may follow suit.