Pro-abortion advocate sentenced for threatening murder

Father Frank Pavone, of Priests for Life, and Professor Robert George of Princeton University were threatened with murder by Theodore Shulman of New York.

Thursday, October 04, 2012

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Theodore Shulman (51), a pro-abortion advocate, was sentenced to 41 months in a federal prison for threatening to kill a number of pro-life advocates. Among Shulman's intended victims were Rev. Frank Pavone, a Catholic priest who leads Priests For Life, and Professor Robert George of Princeton University.

Shulman pleaded guilty in May of 2012 to one count of transmitting a threat to injure another person. The threats were made in 2010.

In January 2010, as the trial of Scott Roeder, a man accused of killing abortionist George Tiller, was under way, Shulman posted a comment on the Catholic news site First Things, threatening that "if Roeder is acquitted, someone will respond by killing" Father Pavone and Professor George.

According to a news release from Priests for Life, Father Pavone stated, "I have already publicly forgiven Mr. Shulman and pray for him every day. I also renew, with my friend Bill Baird, known as the Father of the Pro-Choice movement, the joint statement we made years ago rejecting hatred and violence in word and deed between those on opposite sides of the abortion issue."

On October 3, New York Federal Judge Paul Crotty presided over Shulman's sentencing, giving him 3 years and five months in prison. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said at sentencing that the "vibrant exchange of ideas that is the hallmark of our society does not include threats."

As for Roeder, he was convicted of murdering Wichita abortionist George Tiller in 2009. The abortion clinic where Tiller worked is set to re-open in Topeka.

Spero News editor Martin Barillas is a former US diplomat, who also worked as a democracy advocate and election observer in Latin America. He is also a freelance translator.