Wichita ? A coalition of pastors Thursday called on the Legislature to use a little-known statute to order the new attorney general to prosecute a Wichita abortion provider.

Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline told reporters separately before the pastors’ news conference that he was invited by the group to attend the event, but that the legislative effort comes from them. Kline, now district attorney in Johnson County, said his role was to help the pastors understand the issues and to provide a general overview of the law.

“I don’t think it is right to be let go,” Kline said of the case against Dr. George Tiller, noting that two judges had found there was probable cause that a crime has been committed.

While still attorney general, Kline filed 30 misdemeanor charges alleging illegal late-term abortions had been conducted at Tiller’s clinic. Those charges were dismissed after Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston objected on jurisdictional grounds. Incoming Attorney General Paul Morrison declined to pursue the charges.

“We have an investigation going in regards to Dr. Tiller and if we find evidence of a crime, we will file new charges,” Ashley Anstaett, spokeswoman for Morrison’s office, said Thursday. “Those 30 charges are not really applicable anymore.”

At a news conference in Wichita, a coalition of about 35 pastors from various denominations called for the Legislature to use a state statute that allows it, upon seeing “a horrible injustice,” to compel the state attorney general’s office to prosecute.

“Kansas pastors are asking the Legislature to protect women and children from crimes against humanity. We ask the people of Kansas to get out the message through phone calls, e-mails, etc., these five specific words, and here they are: ‘Charge Tiller, it’s the law,'” said Rob Rotola, pastor of World of Life Church.

But even those calling for the Legislature to act seemed skeptical of their chances.

“We don’t care how successful it is – we care about doing the right thing,” said Mark Holick, pastor of Spirit One Christian Center in Wichita.