Joseph E. Mortimer Jr., the longtime, iconic, pro-life activist leader who founded and served as publisher of the Voices for the Unborn newspaper for nearly three decades, passed away on Friday at the age of 80. VFTU has subscribers and distributors nationwide and in 11 countries.
Mortimer served as host of the Voices for the Unborn radio and TV programs. He also compiled and published a directory of 6,000 pro-life organizations.
Mortimer’s article “The 17 Percent Factor,” in which he pointed out the connection between abortion and reports by automobile manufactures and other businesses of drops in sales of “17 percent,” opened the eyes of many Americans to the disastrous economic consequences that 50 million abortions has had upon America.
Mortimer is survived by his wife, Barbara, their sons and daughters, Joseph ‘Joey’ Mortimer III, Jim Mortimer, Douglas Mortimer, Barbara ‘Barbie’ Bjorn and Kathy Petrie; and sisters Peggy Venticinque and Phyllis Bailey. Mortimer was co-owner and proprietor of Select Jewelers in Feasterville, Penn., the proceeds of which substantially underwrote VFTU and many other pro-life endeavors.
Friends and relatives are invited to St. Christopher’s Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m.
