This story comes from a February 20 Christian Newswire article.
Abortionists locked up in prison for murder, sex abuse, and fraud—this is the end result of human justice. According to the Pro-Life Action League, however, the story does not end there.
This week, the Lenten season began. During this 40-day period of reflection for Christians worldwide, the Pro-Life Action League is asking for prayer on behalf on three abortionists jailed for their crimes.
This trio of criminal abortionists includes:
- Brian Finkel, who is serving a 35-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexually abusing patients at his Phoenix, Arizona abortion clinic.
- Kermit Gosnell, who is serving life without parole for the murder of three babies he stabbed in the neck after they survived his abortion procedures in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Naresh Patel, who was indicted for fraud and racketeering and is awaiting trial after being caught in a sting operation trying to sell abortions to women who were not pregnant at his Oklahoma abortion clinic.
Eric Scheidler, Executive Director of the Pro-Life Action League, admits it can be difficult to pray for these men. Their crimes are heinous. But Scheidler cites the Biblical model of Jesus, whose words, “I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:36), are the foundation of prison ministry. He believes that ministry must also go further, taking to heart another directive from scripture: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). These words of Jesus remind people of faith that even these men can repent of their wrongdoing and be converted to a life that respects and values others.
“These men,” Scheidler explains, “are the enemies of all the women they exploited, of all the babies they killed, and of all who honor the sanctity of human life. Yet, if we don’t pray for them, who will?”
Read more about the Pro-Life Action League’s Lenten campaign, here [https://plal.org/hotline/2015/lent2015/].
Of COURSE we should pray for them – if anyone needs prayers, these guys are very high on the list.
It’s like Jesus said: “I came for the sick, not the healthy – sick people need doctors!!!” Jesus is the SUPREME physician of our souls, so praying for the most depraved people on the planet is spot on.
Amen!
Should Prison Ministry Include Praying for Abortionists?
In praying for them, we are also praying that the killing of unborn babies stop.
Yes, it is very hard to pray for such as these.
When I first entered the Pro-Life movement, I must confess that I hated the perpetrators of such crimes as these. Gradually over the years the Lord’s Blessings have brought me to be able to understand that even though I may hate what they do, the Lord loves them as much as he does me. Therefore, I better love them too.
While it is true we do not know who sincerely repented before death,
and therefore is not in HELL – we can not pray someone out of HELL, where
by his mortal sins of commission and omission je has chosen to be.)
I will let JESUS determine how much time certain people will spend in Purgatory – this is justice. Sin has consequences.
I have plenty of deceased who need my prayers.
CCC: ” 1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.
The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent.
The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.
CCC: ” 1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence.
Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin.