Abortionist Dr. George Tiller Shot to Death at Church on Sunday, May 31

Abortionist George Tiller was shot to death around 10:00 am Sunday, May 31, while in his Wichita, Kansas church, Reformation Lutheran Church, where he was serving as an usher. Tiller was a lightning rod for both sides of the abortion issue as a symbol of death on one side and a symbol of civil liberties on the other. Pro-Life organizations had long decried Tiller's activities at the Women's Health Care Services in Wichita, Kansas.

Dr. George Tiller and Controvery about Women's Health Care Services

The Wichita abortion clinic not only specialized in late-term abortion procedures, but was the scene of at least one death as Christin Gilbert, a 19-year-old woman with Down Syndrome from Keller, Texas, who was 28 weeks pregnant at the time, died of sepsis at George Tiller 's clinic in January 2005 after an abortion procedure.

Tiller had also come under fire for allegedly performing abortions to relieve "temporary depression" in pregnant women and for reportedly using physicians for a second opinion in late-term abortions who were not completely independent from Tiller and his organization. By Kansas law, a consulting physician in late-term abortions must be independent. In both cases Tiller was either acquitted or no charges were brought against him.

In another fairly recent case, a California nurse practitioner is reported to have deliberately stabbed and killed a 35-week-old baby that was born alive during an abortion at Tiller's abortion clinic in Wichita. A murder investigation has been opened involving the nurse practitioner. (See Are Babies Becoming Disposable?)

Pro-Life Organizations Condemn Murder of Dr. George Tiller

Although numerous pro-life organizations had been trying to bring Tiller's alleged infractions to justice through legal means, they were quick to condemn the shooting death of Dr. George Tiller.

Operation Rescue's president Troy Newman released a statement that said in part: "We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down. 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."

Bryan Kemper, President of Stand True denounced the murder of Tiller, saying: "We cannot kill people in the name of pro- life. Answering the violence of abortion with more violence will not serve the babies or help the pro-life movement in any way."

The Susan B. Anthony List said in part: "The Susan B. Anthony List condemns this anti-life act in the strongest of terms. The heart of the pro-life movement is one founded in love. Without this driving powerful center no justice can possibly be achieved."

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued the following statement about the killing of George Tiller: "I am saddened to hear of the killing of George Tiller this morning. At this point, we do not know the motives of this act, or who is behind it...But whatever the motives, we at Priests for Life continue to insist on a culture in which violence is never seen as the solution to any problem. Every life has to be protected, without regard to their age or views or actions."

Shaun Kenney, executive director of American Life League, commented on the killing of abortionist George Tiller saying: "Leaders within the pro-life movement often discuss justice in connection with our mission to end the tragedy of abortion. Today, Dr. George Tiller's life ended in an act defying those principles... Justice for all human beings includes the lives of those with whom we fundamentally disagree as well as the victims of abortion..."

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Washington, DC based Christian Defense Coalition and former national spokesperson for Operation Rescue, who had just completed leading two weeks of prayer vigils in Wichita during the trial of Dr. Tiller, was one of many other Christian leaders who also condemned the shooting of Dr. George Tiller.

Suspect in Custody in Death of Dr. George Tiller

At this time, a suspect is reportedly in custody in the shooting death Dr. George Tiller. It is believed the killer may have originally fled the scene in a light or powder blue Ford Taurus. His or her motive for killing George Tiller remains unknown.

Sources:

Are Babies Becoming Disposable?
Press releases from Operation Rescue, Stand True, Priests for Life, Susan B. Anthony List, and Christian Defense Coalition
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090531/ap_on_re_us/us_tiller_shooting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Tiller

Related:

Abortionist Kermit Gosnell Charged with Murder
Louisiana Mother Dumps Newborn Baby in Lake Pontchartrain