'House of Horrors' Abortion Doctor Kermit Gosnell Insists He's 'Spiritually Innocent,' Reads Bible in Prison
Former physician Kermit Gosnell, known for running a "House of Horrors" late-term abortion clinic in Philadelphia, believes he is "spiritually innocent" for the first degree murders of newborn babies, saying that his grisly work at the clinic was meant to fight a "war on poverty" in the U.S.
Speaking out for the first time since his trial in May that found him guilty of first degree murder of three newborn babies and the involuntary manslaughter of one of his patients, Gosnell told Philadelphia Magazine reporter Steve Volt in an interview that although he believes abortion is not ideal, it is a "greater sin" to deliver a child into an impoverished world.
"In an ideal world," Gosnell told Volt, "we'd have no need for abortion. But bringing a child into the world when it cannot be provided for, that there are not sufficient systems to support, is a greater sin. I considered myself to be in a war against poverty, and I feel comfortable with the things I did and the decisions I made."
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Gosnell also told Volt that because he was working against the war on poverty, he believes himself to be "spiritually innocent." The journalist also told ABC News that Gosnell says he spends a large part of his time in prison studying the bible, exercising, and perfecting his Spanish.
Volt is the only reporter that Gosnell has spoken with since his conviction. Gosnell and Volt have reportedly communicated via telephone and letters while Gosnell serves his life prison sentence without parole. Gosnell reportedly sent Volt 12 letters, more than 50 emails, dozens of phone calls as well as some poetry he wrote regarding abortion, in which the former physician seeks to justify the practice to prevent a child from stumbling into "drugs, crime, or mental illness."
The article featuring Gosnell's interview, entitled "Gosnell's Babies," will be in Philadelphia Magazine's October issue that hits stands tomorrow and will also be made available in an "e-book" format.
Gosnell's Women's Medical Society, located in a run-down neighborhood in west Philadelphia, was raided by FBI agents in February 2010 under the suspicion that illegal drug prescriptions were being distributed from the doctor's office. Along with finding that Gosnell had been a prolific prescriber of oxytocin, FBI agents found what was later described by the state's district attorney as a "house of horrors" late-term abortion clinic where Gosnell reportedly snipped the necks of viable newborn babies after performing illegal, late-term abortions on patients.
Gruesome descriptions of Gosnell's unsanitary clinic drew national attention to his court case. Investigators reportedly found the remains of 45 fetuses in the filthy, urine-scented clinic stained with blood and strewn with unsanitary surgical items. Additionally, Gosnell reportedly stored some of the fetuses' feet in jars.
In May of this year, Gosnell was found guilty of the first-degree murder of three newborns, as well as involuntary manslaughter of one of his patients, and sentenced to multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. Gosnell has maintained throughout his court proceedings and, as seen in "Gosnell's Babies," that he is innocent. Following his conviction, his defense attorney Jack McMahon told reporters that Gosnell "truly believes in himself" and remains convinced that "he never killed a live baby."
