Army of God Defends Driver in Health Clinic "Crash"
by Andy Birkey, New Journalist Fellow
May 22, 2009 - 8:00am (Print)
Matthew Derosia was convicted late last week for ramming his car into the entrance of a Planned Parenthood clinic on Ford Parkway in St. Paul in January during an anti-abortion protest.
Derosia was sentenced to time served, but the state is seeking to have him permanently committed for mental illness. Derosia has faced at least two commitment proceedings in the last decade.
His family is opposing the current commitment, saying Derosia was only doing the Lord’s work.
In an email to the Minnesota Independent on Sunday, Derosia’s mother Georjean, came to his defense. “[It is] the state of Minnesota’s intention to LOCK UP my son for a non-violent protest against Planned Parenthood for THE REST OF HIS LIFE!!!”
Georgjean’s email was sent to anti-abortion activists soliciting funds to keep him out of full-time mental care.
“I agree he needs help and we are getting him the help he needs but without your help he will be lost to everyone forever. With Gods [sic] love we can get justice for this poor boy who was only doing what God asked him to do.”
Matthew Derosia pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 111 days time served and fined $50. He also must pay restitution to Planned Parenthood in the amount of $3,818.85.
The police report noted that after running a vehicle into the front of the clinic, Derosia was “holding a crucifix and shouting various Bible verses. ” He “refused to respond to police and continued to recite Bible verses and shout, ‘Close down the Auschwitz Death Camp.’”
He also told police that “he felt what he did was right and he would do it again if he were told to.”
The incident sparked condemnation from local anti-abortion leaders. Brian Gibson, executive director of Pro-Life Action Ministries, told KARE 11 at the time, “Not only do we not like this happening, we condemn this type of act. We’re against all violence,” Gibson said.
But the extreme wing of the anti-abortion movement has rallied to his defense.
Rev. Donald Spitz of the Army of God, a group that has expressed support for Derosia’s actions before, railed against Gibson.
“Brian Gibson, why did you condemn Matthew Derosia who only drive [sic] a van into a babykilling facility, yet accept women who actually murder their own children by abortion and have the blood of their own children on their hands?,” he wrote in an email to Gibson that’s posted on Spitz’s website.
“What is more important to the LORD Jesus Christ, to save babies about to be murdered in a babykilling abortion mill or the facade of that babykilling abortion mill? To you it is the facade of the babykilling abortion mill that needs protecting and not the babies being murdered.”
I don't think that he should have done this but I don't think that he should be locked up for the rest of his life on some trumped up crap. Pedophiles who raped children don't get committed for the rest of their lives, so it would be unjust to commit this person. If he committed a crime, ie, it was on purpose, than the state should have sentenced him to whatever is usually assigned for such a crime.
"Well behaved women seldom make history."-Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
as to what his criminal/mental health history is like. the short article in the minnesota independent mentions that he's had at least 2 commitment hearings in the last decade. most states don't just throw someone in a psychiatric hospital for the rest of their life without reason. and even if someone is committed for "the rest" of their life, there are usually hearings every so often to see if the person can be released. so, it seems to me that if minnesota wants this person committed for "the rest" of his life, it might have something to do with a long-term mental health issue & not just this 1 incident.
No question the mother is playing the political card, not clear if the state is or not without us knowing more.
Would say, driving a vehicle into a building is an exceptionally destructive act. I'm actually surprised by the lightness of the criminal penalties related to that.
Sounds to me like his mother should also be evaluated. She is confusing being a martyr for God with behavior more like that of a dangerous lunatic. It's pretty easy to identify the roots of his illness.
Excuse me, I said "if it was on purpose," clearly, the police report shows that he did it on purpose.
"Well behaved women seldom make history."-Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
This isn't necessarily related to this article, but does anyone know if attacks at abortion centers are considered domestic terrorism? I'm not sure what is/isn't after 9/11.
When I searched Google with the key words "domestic terrorism" and "pro-life movement" I found a link from Homeland Security when it does label Eric Rudolph as a terrorist for his actions against abortion clinics so I would say yes, they are considered to be domestic terrorists if they act with violence against an abortion clinic or any of it's employees. Here is the link if you would like to check it out.
~Never let others do your thinking for you~
Don Spitz' organisation 'Army of God' is a terrorist group. If I remember correctly, they claimed responsibility for firebombing a gay nightclub in the '90s. I'm not 100% sure, but I do recall reading about that.
Don Spitz et. al. don't give a damn about anyone's life. They're just murderous, psychopathic religious extremists.
The USA have overshadowed the Great Britain, France and even Russia by disorder of the last (and reap now bitter fruits in the form of terrorism, the monopolar world has appeared very fragile and uneasy).
The sentence a person may receive for commiting a crime and the question of whether he is a danger to himself and others and therefore, should be forceably placed in a mental institution where he can be properly cared for are not mutually exclusive. “The true test of a first-rate mind is the ability to hold two contradictory ideas at the same time." F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rev. (sic) Spitz’s opinion on the beliefs or behavior of others should carry no weight whatsoever. He uses his own website to try to make heroes out of murdering terrorists like Paul Hill, Eric Rudolph, John Salvi, and James Kopp. Therefore, the recent designation of the Army of God as a domestic terrorist group by the Virginia State Police is very appropriate. Spitz is so delusional that he thinks that he was ordained by the International Gospel Crusade, a denomination that only exists in his imagination. This makes Spitz even more of a concern.
I am kind of glad their are people like this around and kind of not. I mean, it is definitely not a right thing to drive your car into an abortion clinic - only because it wouldnt keep them closed for long. Im sure they have more than one entrance lol.
But seriously, if doctors can kill a bunch of thinking, breathing babies, then this guy should be allowed to drive his car into the clinic. maybe not target women but go after some doctors would be fine
But seriously, if doctors can kill a bunch of thinking, breathing babies, then this guy should be allowed to drive his car into the clinic.
Um, no doctor is killing "thinking, breathing babies." And no, no one should be allowed to drive their car into any clinic. If they don't like it, they can hold up a sign and protest legally.
maybe not target women but go after some doctors would be fine
In other words, target women. (Who the hell do you think these doctors serve?)
i think the driver was just frustrated by all the baby killing..perhaps women who have abortions should be committed to a mental hospital for "life"?
Um, foetuses don't breathe. They don't think, either, particularly since most pregnancies are terminated before 12 weeks, at which point the central nervous system is not developed enough for thought to take place.
And what, you think there are no female doctors who provide abortions? And you seriously believe it's ok to run around murdering doctors? How kind of you to spare us womenfolk.
How DARE you! You anti-choicers never fail to disappoint with your women hating. That is what this is all about. You talk about life, but then say going after a bunch of doctors is fine?? Obviously, you care more about a blob of cells that exist in someone else's BODY, than a real live born, named, loved, and sanctioned by a birth certificate human being. Fetuses do not think, as someone else pointed out, they don't breathe, they aren't formed enough, and they exist in a WOMAN's body ONLY, as they are tied to her by a cord until it is aborted, miscarried, or wanted by a woman and given birth to where it becomes...tada! A baby. I know that I cannot count on you to think, as your brain appears to be not fully functioning by the things that you have said, and it appears to me that you don't know what reality is. That makes you not only stupid, but dangerous and stupid.
But seriously, if doctors can kill a bunch of thinking, breathing babies,
You have to be alive and have a brain before you can 'think', Bubba. However, I can see how you might be confused.
then this guy should be allowed to drive his car into the clinic. maybe
not target women but go after some doctors would be fine
Why lookee here. It's another home grown Christian terrorist wanna be.
Of course these people represent no real pro-life groups and les than .00001 percent of the majority of Americans who are pro-life.
This is just as those who support infanticide don't represent those who support legal abortions.
I am prolife and I don’t support violence against abortionists no matter how evil the murder of innocent children is. We will not solve the problem of abortion/murder by murdering the murderers or committing acts of violence against them.
