Abortion Doctor Murdered Attending Church; Pro-Lifers Fearing Backlash
The body of a Tiller is removed from the Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kan., Sunday, May 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Controversial and late-term abortion doctor George Tiller, was murdered today while attending his church.
Tiller, 67, who was acquitted in March for breaking an abortion law, was shot by a handgun inside the lobby of his longtime church, Reformation Lutheran Church, just after 10 a.m. (Central Time).
Adam Watkins, 20, told the Associated Press that he was sitting in the middle of the congregation when he heard a small pop.
“We just thought a child had come in with a balloon and it had popped,” he said.
Tiller’s slaying comes as President Obama had recently encouraged Americans to find common ground. “I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning,” Obama said in a statement. “However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.”
Last month, Obama spoke on the matter of abortion during a commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame. He acknowledged, “The fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable.”
Pro-life groups are fearing a backlash as a result of the murder of Tiller. Anti-abortion groups appropriately condemned the killer of Tiller and publicly issued statements.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had faced opposition for her alliance with Tiller, whose clinic was one of relatively few performing late-term abortions.
Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, who opposed Tiller’s abortion practices said, “The reason we are pro-life is because we hate violence on any level. I don’t know of one legitimate pro-life leader who would not unequivocally condemn this.”
“I’d hope they wouldn’t try to broad-brush the entire pro-life movement as some sort of extremist movement because of what happened in Wichita,” Mahoney said. “That’s really important — don’t use this personal loss for a political gain.”
Operation Rescue issued a statement denouncing the shooting. “We are shocked at this morning’s disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down,” said Troy Newman, Operation Rescue’s president. “Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller’s family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”
Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation said, “It is abhorrent that once again, individuals who oppose the right to choose have used violence to try to advance their extreme anti-choice agenda.”
“We condemn this lawless act of violence. The foundational right to life that our work is dedicated to extends to everyone. Whoever is responsible for this reprehensible violence must be brought to justice under the law,” said Americans United for Life President and CEO, Dr. Charmaine Yoest, in a statement.
Police arrested 51-year-old of Merriam, Kan., Scott Roeser on a charge of first-degree murder shortly after the shooing.
The Witchata Eagle reported that 400 people gathered in a Sunday night vigil to honor George Tiller.
Tiller had became known as “Tiller the Killer” because of his long history of terminating pregnancies of women and girls who were in the 22nd week of gestation or beyond — known as late-term abortions. He built a name as one of three doctors who nationally marketed his practice of conducting these late-term abortions.
As of today, Tiller’s clinic, Women’s Health Care Services (drtiller.com), and the Colorado based Boulder Abortion Clinic, Warren M. Hern (drhern.com) are actively advertising this practice on Google under the search term, “late term abortion”.
Abortion is one of the most common “surgical procedures” in the U.S., terminating the life of a child in about one in four pregnancies, not counting miscarriages. For more about the reality of abortion, http://www.AbortionNo.org
View a must-see documentary on how abortion affects women and their families, Beyond the Dark Valley http://www.beyondthedarkvalley.com/
Related posts:
- Clinic of Slain Late-Term Abortion Doctor Is ‘Permanently Closed’
- Nebraska Dr. Wants To Replace Former Late-Term Abortionist Tiller
- Obama Continues With His Pro-Abortion Appointments
- Abortionist’s Killer Sentenced To Life In Prison
- Anti-Abortion Activist ‘Targeted’ in Murder; White House Remains Silent
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