Contact: Michael F Martelli, Maryland Coalition for Life, 410-775-6670, michael@MDCoalitionForLife.com

GERMANTOWN, Md., Feb. 10, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Over 90 people stood in peaceful, prayerful witness outside of the abortion facility where Leroy Carhart performs late-term abortions through the ninth month of pregnancy. Witnesses described a young woman who arrived to have a scheduled abortion with Carhart, and how the entire group gathered together to pray specific and focused prayers for this particular woman and her child.

The woman came back out of facility a short time later and announced, "I knew the love was out here and not in there!" She also said that the facility was "disgusting and the people are mean in there."

The young woman continued to speak with the group for several minutes, and eventually accompanied one of the witnesses to Shady Grove Pregnancy Center. Shady Grove's purpose is to help and support women who believe that their only option is abortion, when in fact there are really other options and life-affirming alternatives available.

"A woman chose life for her child, who was within minutes of certain death! These prayer warriors were there as a witness to the love and care that the pro-life community shares for women in crisis, as well as the preborn children whose lives are threatened," said Michael Martelli, the Executive Director of the Maryland Coalition for Life. "But even as we celebrate this joyous event, we must also renew our conviction to ensure that not one single woman is subjected to the filthy and squalid conditions that were recently uncovered in Kermit Gosnell's facility in Philadelphia and in Stephen Brigham's illegal facility in Elkton, MD."

Eric Wargotz, MD, former US Senate Nominee and a physician who practices in Prince Georges County, commented, "My heart is joyful for this mother who avoided a lifetime of regret, and for her child who will now have a chance to grow up in a loving family. As a medical doctor and former member of the Maryland Board of Physicians, I join the MD Coalition for Life in fighting to ensure the women of Maryland receive the highest standard of care - both medically and emotionally." 

Two Maryland Delegates also expressed their joy with the outcome, "There's no doubt that God's love was transcended by the 90 volunteers there that day, and that love pierced the heart of the young woman contemplating aborting her child. To God be the Glory, for yet another miracle!" said Delegate Don Dwyer (R) from District 31 in Anne Arundel County. And Delegate Gail Bates (R) from District 41 in Howard County, remarked, "It's clear that the people who love and value life provide the same high standard of care to the mother who has already been born, and to the child who has not yet been born."

The President of the Maryland Coalition of Medical Pregnancy Clinics, Pamela Palumbo, who has first hand knowledge of the filthy conditions and blood-stained floors left behind by Abortionist Romeo Ferrer in Severna Park, MD, wonders when abortion facilities will be held to a higher standard, "It is of great encouragement to see the pro-life community in Montgomery County pull together and make a difference of a lifetime today.  But we now must ask ourselves, what about tomorrow, and all the tomorrows after that?"

Pro-Family organizations from around the state also commented on the news. Nancy Paltell, Associate Director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, said "Once again, we see that when women are offered a real choice, an alternative to abortion, they freely choose life.  The tragedy is that many women seek abortion because they feel they have no choice.  When society shows them that they and their baby are loved, pregnant women in crisis are allowed to follow their true maternal instincts and give the gift of life to their child." Derek McCoy, Director of the Maryland Family Council and Associate Pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville stated, "We celebrate this life-affirming decision with our pro-life brothers and sisters across Maryland. This is a perfect example that illustrates that the Pro-Life position is actually the Pro-Woman position, and that we are here to help women and families in their hour of need."

The prayerful witnesses outside of Carhart's facility pledged to maintain and expand the vigil until Carhart ceases to perform abortions in Maryland, and until Germantown Reproductive Health Services no longer jeopardizes the health and welfare of women and children.

The Maryland Coalition for Life is a community-based, grassroots, pro-life network dedicated to bringing the many Maryland pro-life organizations, churches, elected officials, and individual citizens together peacefully and prayerfully to end abortion in Maryland - forever.