Here's the story from The Wichita Eagle:
George Tiller, the Wichita doctor who became a national lightning rod in the debate over abortion, was shot to death this morning as he walked into church services.Read the entire story HERE.
Tiller, 67, was shot just after 10 a.m. at Reformation Lutheran Church at 7601 E. 13th, where he was a member of the congregation. Witnesses and a police source confirmed Tiller was the victim...
Members of the congregation who were inside the sanctuary at the time of the shooting were being kept inside the church by police, and those arriving were being ushered into the parking lot. Witnesses are being transported downtown for interviews and other members of the congregation are slowly being released from inside the sanctuary.
Tiller has long been a focal point of protest by abortion opponents because his clinic, Women's Health Care Services at 5701 E. Kellogg, is one of the few in the country where late-term abortions are performed.
This is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that Dr. Tiller was murdered. It is a double tragedy that Dr. Tiller chose to use his medical credentials and training to perform abortions.
If you are pro-life remember that killing is not the way to advance the cause. I understand the moral outrage over abortion. I understand that it is the taking of innocent life. Unfortunately however it is still the law of our country and Christians are not called to be vigilantes who kill wrongdoers.
Unfortunately many in the media and many of our politicians will gladly lump all pro-lifers in the camp of crazed, violent lunatics.
4 comments:
Acts like this only hurt the pro-life cause. This story quotes one person saying the following,
"The murder of Dr. Tiller may have been committed by one person, but it was organizations like Operation Rescue and others in the ironically named "pro-life" movement that loaded the gun. It's disingenuous for Operation Rescue to denounce vigilantism on one hand, but enable it on the other through its constant refrain of abortion and abortion providers being evil."
Obviously, the logic behind such a statement is... well non-existent. Unfortunately, logic is irrelevant, and many people are going to take this point of view whether it's logical or not. This should truly be considered a sad day for pro-lifers.
Matt,
Exactly right.
Robert George said it very well:
"Whoever murdered George Tiller has done a gravely wicked thing. The evil of this action is in no way diminished by the blood George Tiller had on his own hands. No private individual had the right to execute judgment against him. We are a nation of laws. Lawless violence breeds only more lawless violence. Rightly or wrongly, George Tiller was acquitted by a jury of his peers. “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.” For the sake of justice and right, the perpetrator of this evil deed must be prosecuted, convicted, and punished. By word and deed, let us teach that violence against abortionists is not the answer to the violence of abortion. Every human life is precious. George Tiller’s life was precious. We do not teach the wrongness of taking human life by wrongfully taking a human life. Let our “weapons” in the fight to defend the lives of abortion’s tiny victims, be chaste weapons of the spirit."
Ryan,
Great quote from Professor George. I heard Bill Bennet read it this morning on the radio. I can't think of a better way to assess the situation.
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