Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, 540-538-4741

PHILADELPHIA, July 18, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pro-life organizations to personally ask the Philadelphia Medical Examiner to release the babies to them so these children can receive a proper funeral and burial.

The groups will be holding a prayer vigil and news conference outside of the Medical Examiner's Office on Friday, July 19, at 10:00 a.m.

The office is located at 321 University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

The Christian Defense Coalition will also be presenting a formal letter sent to the Medical Examiner by Alliance Defending Freedom asking for the release of the babies to pro-life organizations. (See letter here.)

If they babies are not released, the groups will be demanding the City of Philadelphia give full disclosure on how the babies are being treated, what kind of funeral and burial they are receiving and assurances these children will be given the same dignity and respect of any other persons under the care of the Medical Examiner.

The Christian Defense Coalition and other pro-life organizations will be joining with Priests for Life and Stand True who are the principal organizers of the event.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states;

"The pro-life community will be calling upon the Philadelphia Medical Examiner to release these babies, who were murdered by Kermit Gosnell, into their care so they can receive a proper and dignified funeral and burial.

"The official guidelines and regulations of the Medical Examiner's Office allow for anyone to put in a formal request like this and we pray their office honors our request.

"The conviction of Gosnell on murder charges makes it clear that these babies are persons and must be afforded the same equal rights as anyone else under the law.

"If the Medical Examiner offers a valid explanation why they should not allow the pro-life community provide these babies a proper funeral and burial, then we we will be demanding that the City of Philadelphia give full disclosure on how these children are being treated and what kind of funeral and burial they will receive.

"It would tragic and barbaric if they were not given the full respect and honor they deserve as part of the human family and afforded a proper funeral and burial.  They were brutalized once by Kermit Gosnell.  We must ensure that these innocent children are not brutalized and diminished again by the City of Philadelphia."

For more information or interviews call:
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 540.538.4741