Murder on Abortion Row

In December 1994, John Salvi attacked two Brookline, MA clinics which performed abortions. Two female receptionists were killed and several others seriously injured. The next day Salvi shot up the front of a Virginia abortion clinic. What led Salvi to these acts? This Frontline PBS documentary examines the life of Salvi and one of the murdered receptionists Shannon Lowney, two people raised in the Catholic faith who followed very different paths. By providing a dual focus, the video aims to portray a country split by an emotional, irreconcilable divide. The program interviews members of Operation Rescue, clinic employees, members of Salvi's and Lowney's families, and Catholic church officials. Salvi, who comes across as an intense young man increasingly plagued by paranoia and mental disorders, is shown in pre-trial interviews with his lawyer (he has since been convicted on murder charges). On the other hand, Lowney is portrayed as a vibrant, caring woman just finding her purpose in life. The final question the viewer must decide is--what caused the murders? Was it the "evil" of abortion or did the heated rhetoric of the pro-life demonstrators incite an unstable man to violence? This documentary is a well balanced portrayal of the views of pro-life and pro-choice advocates. Thoughtful and troubling, with no easy answers, it's highly recommended for current events collections. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)