Last modified: Friday, October 24, 2008 2:02 AM EDT EMT critical of abortion clinic BY RICK FOSTER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF ATTLEBORO - A city firefighter who helped organize a prayer campaign against abortion said in a nationally published interview that a local clinic treated a young woman whose fetus had just been aborted "like a paycheck" during a medical emergency there. Stephen Marcotte, an emergency medical technician with the Attleboro Fire Department, was quoted in the National Catholic Register that he was deeply affected by an abortion-related emergency call to Four Women Health Services in Attleboro. Marcotte is a spokesman for the Attleboro 40 Days For Life campaign, which includes prayer and fasting, as well as a peaceful vigil outside the women's clinic. "I asked the patient's name, like I do on all medical runs, but nobody knew," Marcotte was quoted as saying. "Here, they had just aborted this 19-year-old girl's baby, and I saw them scrambling to find out who she was. "To them, she was a procedure, a paycheck. That really bothered me." The report was posted on the magazine's Web site, www.ncregister.com. Marcotte declined a request for an interview with The Sun Chronicle, except to say that his opinions are his own and are not intended to represent the Attleboro Fire Department or fellow employees. A spokeswoman for Four Women's on Emory Street had no comment Thursday. The 40 Days For Life campaign began in September and is scheduled to end Nov. 2, two days before the presidential election. More than 170 communities in the United States and Canada reportedly are participating in the campaign. Many churches in the Attleboro area, including LaSalette Shrine, St. Joseph's Church, Holy Ghost Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Seekonk and the Diocese of Fall River support the campaign. "As people here in Attleboro join with others from across the country to pray and fast and take courageous action for 40 days to end the tragic violence of abortion, we look forward to seeing what kind of transformation God will bring about in our city and throughout America," Marcotte told a Sun Chronicle reporter earlier this fall. As part of their efforts at the vigils, campaign supporters try to speak to women and provide information on alternative pregnancy centers, such as A Women's Concern, which has eight offices throughout New England. "We're not just asking women to choose life; we're offering them support throughout their pregnancy," Marcotte said. The article quoting Marcotte did not detail when the incident happened or give a name or identifying characteristics of the woman who was involved. Attleboro Fire Chief Ron Churchill said he is aware of Marcotte's activism and that political advocacy by a public employee is acceptable as long it does not mix with work. "He hasn't crossed that line," Churchill said.