Pro-life or Pro-death?
Suspect captured in killing of Kansas abortion doctor
Mon Jun 1, 2009 9:43am EDT
By Carey Gillam
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - A Kansas doctor reviled by anti-abortion groups for his work providing "late-term" abortions was shot and killed in his Wichita, Kansas church on Sunday, and police said they captured the man responsible.
Police said they planned to charge a 51-year-old man on Monday with homicide and two counts of aggravated assault in the death of 67-year-old George Tiller, who died from a single gunshot.
Tiller was shot while serving as an usher for Sunday services in the foyer at Reformation Lutheran Church. The shooter threatened two other men at the church who tried to intervene, police said.
"We feel that this is an act of an isolated individual, however our investigation continues," said Wichita deputy police chief Tom Stolz.
Stolz said they were investigating whether the shooter had any ties to anti-abortion groups.
President Barack Obama expressed shock and outrage, saying in a statement, "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said federal law enforcement officials would work with local authorities in investigating the crime. He directed federal agents "to offer protection to other appropriate people and facilities around the nation."
The killing comes as the Obama administration is seeking confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court of Sonia Sotomayor, whom many anti-abortion groups have vowed to oppose for her perceived support of the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling that legalized abortion in the United States.
"For the movement, it could not come at a worse time," the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, which lobbies against abortion, said of the killing.
"If they make it seem that people who embrace the pro-life movement are kind of this extremist violent group, that could diminish some of the passion and energy on confronting Sotomayor."
Mahoney said that while it was likely Tiller's killing was motivated by anti-abortion beliefs, the movement did not support violence. Anti-abortion leaders will hold a news conference in front of the U.S. Supreme Court at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday to discuss the matter.
Tiller was one of only a few physicians in the United States willing to perform late-term abortions, those performed after the 20th week of gestation when a fetus potentially could survive outside the womb and legal under certain conditions.
PREVIOUS ATTACKS
Tiller's Wichita clinic had been the site of several mass protests by anti-abortion groups and was bombed in 1985. The doctor was shot in both arms by an abortion opponent in 1993.
Abortion foes celebrated earlier this year when Tiller was brought to trial on charges of illegally performing certain abortions in his Wichita clinic. But he was acquitted in March.
One anti-abortion group, Operation Rescue, had been particularly outspoken against him, maintaining a "Tiller Watch" on its website. But the group on Sunday denounced "vigilantism" and said it was praying for Tiller's family.
Police declined to name the suspect in Sunday's shooting, saying only that he was captured a few hours after the killing about 180 miles north of Wichita, near Kansas City. Police said he was a resident of Merriam, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City.
Tiller's family released a statement through its lawyers calling the killing a "unspeakable tragedy."
"This is particularly heart wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace," the statement said.
(Reporting by Carey Gillam; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Peter Cooney)
===============================================================
If this anti-abortionist believed he was saving valuable life by terminating the life of an abortion doctor - how does that reconcile with his conscience?
The suspect has not been named, but I can't help but wonder if he was a Christian but, how could a God-fearing Christian gun down a man at his place of worship?
How does 'thou shalt not kill' not apply?
Save a few babies, kill an established human life?
thoughts?
Mon Jun 1, 2009 9:43am EDT
By Carey Gillam
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - A Kansas doctor reviled by anti-abortion groups for his work providing "late-term" abortions was shot and killed in his Wichita, Kansas church on Sunday, and police said they captured the man responsible.
Police said they planned to charge a 51-year-old man on Monday with homicide and two counts of aggravated assault in the death of 67-year-old George Tiller, who died from a single gunshot.
Tiller was shot while serving as an usher for Sunday services in the foyer at Reformation Lutheran Church. The shooter threatened two other men at the church who tried to intervene, police said.
"We feel that this is an act of an isolated individual, however our investigation continues," said Wichita deputy police chief Tom Stolz.
Stolz said they were investigating whether the shooter had any ties to anti-abortion groups.
President Barack Obama expressed shock and outrage, saying in a statement, "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said federal law enforcement officials would work with local authorities in investigating the crime. He directed federal agents "to offer protection to other appropriate people and facilities around the nation."
The killing comes as the Obama administration is seeking confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court of Sonia Sotomayor, whom many anti-abortion groups have vowed to oppose for her perceived support of the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling that legalized abortion in the United States.
"For the movement, it could not come at a worse time," the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, which lobbies against abortion, said of the killing.
"If they make it seem that people who embrace the pro-life movement are kind of this extremist violent group, that could diminish some of the passion and energy on confronting Sotomayor."
Mahoney said that while it was likely Tiller's killing was motivated by anti-abortion beliefs, the movement did not support violence. Anti-abortion leaders will hold a news conference in front of the U.S. Supreme Court at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday to discuss the matter.
Tiller was one of only a few physicians in the United States willing to perform late-term abortions, those performed after the 20th week of gestation when a fetus potentially could survive outside the womb and legal under certain conditions.
PREVIOUS ATTACKS
Tiller's Wichita clinic had been the site of several mass protests by anti-abortion groups and was bombed in 1985. The doctor was shot in both arms by an abortion opponent in 1993.
Abortion foes celebrated earlier this year when Tiller was brought to trial on charges of illegally performing certain abortions in his Wichita clinic. But he was acquitted in March.
One anti-abortion group, Operation Rescue, had been particularly outspoken against him, maintaining a "Tiller Watch" on its website. But the group on Sunday denounced "vigilantism" and said it was praying for Tiller's family.
Police declined to name the suspect in Sunday's shooting, saying only that he was captured a few hours after the killing about 180 miles north of Wichita, near Kansas City. Police said he was a resident of Merriam, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City.
Tiller's family released a statement through its lawyers calling the killing a "unspeakable tragedy."
"This is particularly heart wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace," the statement said.
(Reporting by Carey Gillam; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Peter Cooney)
===============================================================
If this anti-abortionist believed he was saving valuable life by terminating the life of an abortion doctor - how does that reconcile with his conscience?
The suspect has not been named, but I can't help but wonder if he was a Christian but, how could a God-fearing Christian gun down a man at his place of worship?
How does 'thou shalt not kill' not apply?
Save a few babies, kill an established human life?
thoughts?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Fantumofthewinds on -
and they say we are ratical , why oh why do they keep bringing these issues up? we are over populated and their are indeed many illnesses that can cripple and damage the fetus, their are mental along with other issues , The right to CHOOSE is ours! Get your hands off my rights , I dont tell a man what he can and cannot do with his body nor do I direct your life . Abortion is a womans right and we need no one telling us what is right for us , men! gur! give them a inch and they most asure take a mile . How about you paying your child support for the hankey- pankey you have caused ? and the many woman you have abanden ? and your lust that you could not control and your responisibilitys to it. and since you have no birth control its open season for men ya lay it all on the woman call this a lack of resopnisibility I DO! get a grip . Take your religion along with the domination of the chruch and over me away . this matter was seddled long ago " Thank YOU " ! MP Fantumofthewinds
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Permalink Reply by Lillaine on -
It is a sick and deluded person,who shot the doctor.Fuled by hatred from pro-life propaganda these right-wingers actually believe,they are doing the work of their God.The Bible is rank with the murders of people who prefered to live by their own concience rather than be told what to do.To me christianity is very negative and the cause of much heartache in the world.Thou shalt not kill seems to only apply if the person you are NOT killing is a GOOD christian.Because the doctor performed abortions, a certain type of fanatical christian,would see him as a BAD christian ,and therefore in their twisted mind it is his right,and even duty to erradicate this evil man.
That we are argueing the abortion rights issue so many years after Roe vrs Wade was passed is ludicris.I wish we really had seperation of church and state,and freedom of religion in this country,but sadly it isn't so. I am deaply sadened by this atrocity.On a briter note ,everytime one of these intellectual morons commits an unspeakable act,such as this,The worlds eyes are opened,many are sickened,and turned off and hopefully away from this kind of lunacy.There is a good reason why all religions are experianceing a decline in followers.This sort of thing is surely one of them.
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Permalink Reply by SIN on -
I don't know Lillaine, is Christianity to blame or it's followers? Isn't it an interpretation issue? I really don't see the difference between the misinterpretation here vs. radical islam. The texts themselves can be taken out of context, and bent to serve a personal goal.
Not to mention, we don't know in all certainty if the killer was a devout Christian.
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Permalink Reply by Fantumofthewinds on
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I think programming . and I so agree . as for the killer we know not why? could be a love issue, could be a religious , and even a suside who knows people do crazy things now days . but this is one issue that I must say christians push and push so who knows its all right to send your son to war, its alright to persucute others for their beliefs and burn them , but heaven forbid you make a decision to abort ?????? you got me. MP Fantumofthewinds
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Permalink Reply by Alchemy on -
First of all you got to dig deeper in that man's beliefs chances were he is christian with alot of twisted brain washing thrown in.
It is not a "Pagan",or "other" belief, any time you have an incident like this it is always bible thumper.
And you bet Government and religion go hand in hand Christianity always has some saying in every part I think its time for them to let go of the hold they once had over the people.
I am glad that Obama stands up for the women right to choose!
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Permalink Reply by Dale on -
Well sadly as history has proven the religious fanatic sometimes feels he's the hand of his god (if he's a christian). And to carry out the dictates of his law. I don't approve of abortion. Because reguardless how the life was caused or created, it's still being ended. I really don't approve however of someone taking into his hands murder or terminating the life of someone Even in such a holyplace is discusting. Let me be among the first from a christian to say I offer my love , prayer and condolences to the family of the doctor. And pray that the fullest extent of the law is carried out to the killer. Life in prison. Without the possibility of ever getting out.
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Permalink Reply by Tsiyeria on -
It's not just this guy. There are whole groups of people who do nothing but stand outside these clinics holding signs and yelling at and sometimes even physically attacking the women who go inside:
Right after the election we saw a small upsurge in anti-abortion activity. But since the inauguration, things have gotten measurably worse. There's been an increase in picketing by students from Franciscan University in Ohio. On Saturdays there are 60-plus protesters and there's been an increase in screaming and aggression. We don't have a parking lot so people park on the street. The antis have surrounded cars, trapping the women inside, and in several cases the antis jumped into vehicles and touched or grabbed at them. The police were called but so far they don't seem to be responding appropriately.
Source.
These people don't seem to understand the other services these doctors provide. Pre-natal and post-natal care, avenues into adoption, pre- and post-abortion counseling...It's a pretty hefty list. All they see is the "baby killer" and the "baby killer" must be brought to justice by any means. If this suspect gets the death penalty for premeditated murder, he will become a martyr for the cause.
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Permalink Reply by Senara on -
I have not only seen, but experienced the type of behavior described. As a patient at his clinic trying to reach the front door, I was surrounded by sign toting freaks who spit on me and kicked at me, and called me every vile name you can think of. In other words, I was physically and verbally attacked. And so was every other woman who tried to enter the place, no matter their reason for being there. And of course, the police did nothing. I guess they had the attitude that if you are going in, you have to run the gauntlet. And that's exactly what it was.
I fail to see how they believe this to be God's work, or how it might change a woman's mind about having an abortion. These people corrupt the non-violent, tolerant teachings of Jesus. But they love to throw his name around...they just don't want to follow his example.
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Permalink Reply by bkyrdwtch on -
There is a difference between Killing and Murder. In the original text the word is Murder. If a Christain sees it as protecting Children then he is doing good work for God. Hence, killing not murder. They aren't tossing the rules under the bus. In a twisted sense they are following the rules.
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Permalink Reply by SIN on
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A friend of mine who is Christian said a similar thing. He believes it originally said:
"Thou Shalt Not Murder" vs. Kill.
When I asked him what he was basing that belief, he didn't know and confessed he had never read the bible.
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Permalink Reply by July Evening Starr on -
Sadly, I know many that claim to be christian that have never read the bible.
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Permalink Reply by LORD CHARLES on -
I have studied the bible going back into the original language it was written in from cover to cover over decades as part of my "Pagan" studies, among a multitude of ancient texts. And "yes" "Thou shall not Murder" or kill "unlawfully" is the original meaning. The bible does make a definite distinction between Lawful and Unlawful killing.
But I think my most interesting discovery over the years has been that Judaism itself admits to more than one god. For Example "Elohim" a name for God used in Genesis, is sometimes plural??? And why did God say "We shall make man in our own image? Are among a multitude of examples. And believe me there are literally hundreds of things I have found that have led me to the conclusion that Judaism and hence Christianity are "technically" Polytheistic!
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