Dr. Bernard Nathanson dead at 84
His was a remarkable journey – an abortionist who committed 75,000 abortions, reaching the upper echelons of influence in the early days of the pro-abortion movement, going on to convert to pro-life.
He was Dr. Bernard Nathanson, who died this morning at age 84 after a prolonged battle against cancer. National Catholic Register has posted a detailed bio.
As one of the founding members of NARAL, Dr. Nathanson later described the lies he and his fellow abortion proponents devised to push the legalization of abortion. These included fabricating polls saying Americans supported abortion as well as illegal abortion statistics. “The actual figure [of illegal abortions] was approaching 100,000, but the figure we gave to the media repeatedly was 1,000,000,” Nathanson later said.
Perhaps Dr. Nathanson’s greatest contribution to the pro-life movement was his production of the documentary, The Silent Scream. This remarkably powerful film showed a baby gaping his or her mouth in a silent scream of agony while being aborted. Following is that section of the film. Go to 6:40…
I never got to meet Dr. Nathanson but honor him as a very important pro-life figure. May he rest in peace.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
A Bernard Nathanson quote from LifeNews.com: “My switch to pro-life had nothing to do with religion. Tiller was a church-going man, which doesn’t say a whole lot in this country, but one wonders why he never changed his mind based on the scientific evidence. That is where I changed my mind, based on fetoscopies and ultrasound studies. Once we had ultrasound in place, we could study the fetus and see it was a member of our community. If you don’t do that, you’re just a creature of political ideology.”
I never met Dr. Nathanson either, but I’ve long been a fan. It takes a lot of courage to admit when you’re wrong. The world has lost a very courageous man indeed. His tireless pro-life, pro-science advocacy will be noted in the history books.
I felt a touch of sorrow when I read about his death an hour and a half ago. I had become quite fond of him over the years, which may seem preposterous given the unspeakable crimes he had committed.
However, I believe he made a successful transition from ruthless criminal abortionist to compassionate pro-life humanitarian.
He did great evil in his earlier years, but he did great good in his later years. I hope he will have a happy meeting in the afterlife with some of those whose very young lives he took.
We should use his passing as an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the noblest of all human causes, the one in which we are involved, the one to end needless and unjust violence against helpless and innocent human beings, to protect all human life and make the world a safe place.
Rest in peace, Bernard Nathanson, and may God’s love be with you.
Whatever the magnitude of Dr. Nathanson’s sins, they are a drop in the ocean compared to God’s Mercy and Forgiveness. He repented and spent the rest of his life doing all he could to educate and end abortion.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual Light shine upon him.
God bless you, Dr. Nathanson. Could you please ask God to perform a few pro-life miracles here on earth? Thank you. May you rest in peace.
He is one of the reasons I became pro life.
Whoa.
I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Nathanson’s death. He was indeed a brave man who confessed to his sins and spent the rest of his life making amends.
He becme a powerful pro-life warrior; I’d even venture to say he was a more effective advocate for life during the many years he continued as an atheist before becoming a Catholic. It’s hard to refute arguments like his, based on the scientific evidence.
May the merciful God grant him eternal joy!
Yeah, considering the way his health was going, I had the feeling we might be hearing this soon. :( May he rest in peace.
Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Amen.
Bernarnd Nathanoson put his money and his reptuation where his mouth was.
He spoke as one who walked down both sides of the road and in the end he was on the side of truth and justice.
May the ‘Silent Scream’ someday become a reminder of the horrible past the way, John Newton’s ‘Amazing Grace’ has become a perpetual testimony to God’s mercy and lovingkindness when we rememer our sins and the sins of our fathers.
ditto what Amy said
I find it interesting God decided to take him at this time with all that is going on with PP.
Rest in peace good and faithful servant….pray for us when you get to heaven.
Regardless of what he claimed, Dr. Bernard Nathanson knew — as all physicians had to who worked with pregnancies — that the fetus begins to resemble what we all think of as a human being in the early stages of pregnancy long before the ultrasound was invented. It was known in the 19th Century that a human-like form was there between the 7th and 10th weeks of pregnancy. Of course, Dr. Nathanson also knew that many girls and women simply couldn’t stand carrying pregnancies to term and would abort or even commit suicide if abortion wasn’t available. That was why he and others campaigned for legal abortion. To win the support of the growing feminist movement, they exaggerated figures because larger figures gave the cause a greater sense of urgency. He was a liar and an opportunist. He milked the legalization cause for all he could and then went over to the anti-legalization cause and milked it for all he could.
His story also helps to remind us that those that may spit on us or curse us while we pray at a clinic, might one day be knelt beside us
Denise, Joan, & to the others making such snarky comments: you nor any other could see into this man or Abby Johnson’s heart & know their true intentions, none of us can, & so you have no right to make such comments, & do so for no other sake than slander.
All should read his book, “The Hand of God; A Journey from Death to Life by the Abortion Doctor Who Changed HIs Mind” great book!
What, no obit in The New York Times?
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Nathanson some time ago. He was a true gentleman, low-key with a wry sense of humor. Rest in peace, Doc.
I had the privilege of interviewing Nathanson in 1985 for a detailed profile in The American Spectator; he was a complex and courageous man. I’ve posted the article here:
http://www.crazystable.squarespace.com
Requiescat In Pace.