Diverse Coalition Backs Pro-Life Candidates

by Keith Peters, Washington, D.C., correspondent

Christians, Muslims Jews and atheists band together to say abortion is wrong —and so are office-seekers who support it.

Proof that opposition to abortion crosses ideological and theological lines could be seen this week in a coalition of Christians, Jews, Muslims and atheists formed to promote support for pro-life candidates on Election Day.

The group's membership includes actress Jennifer O'Neill, a spokeswoman for Silent No More, which offers support for post-abortive women.

"Any politician who supports abortion," she said, "flies in the face of the very core issue of being a public servant because it murders and destroys millions and millions of lives."

Atheist Doris Gordon agreed.

"Nobody has a right to kill innocent children, born or pre-born," she said, "no matter where they are located."

Muslim Mohammed Namir agreed, too.

"Abortion as a lifestyle issue," he said, "has no room in Islamic faith."

Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life likened toleration of abortion to toleration of terrorism, saying that no person who advocates terrorism or abortion is worthy of public office.

"The evil of September 11th, 2001, was not simply that buildings fell and lives were lost. An earthquake could have caused the same tragic loss," he explained. "What constituted the evil of that day was that some people had no regard for the claims of innocent human life, but rather deliberately destroyed them."