VIRGINIA BEACH
A group of abortion rights supporters gathered in Virginia Beach on Sunday evening for a memorial for Dr. George Tiller, the abortion provider shot and killed last month inside his church in Wichita, Kan.
“Not everyone in my church sees eye to eye on reproductive freedom,” said Jenna Randall of Virginia Beach, the organizer. “But one thing we all can agree on is no one should ever have to be gunned down inside what is supposed to be a sanctuary.”
Tiller’s Kansas clinic was one of the few in the nation that performed abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy, when a fetus is considered viable. Police arrested the suspected shooter, Scott Roeder, 51, on a charge of first-degree murder.
Sunday’s vigil, with 15 people in attendance, was held at Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church. It was among a number of similar vigils in different states.
People at the memorial described Tiller as a doctor who showed compassion toward women who wanted their children, but made a painful choice to have an abortion because their babies would have suffered or been stillborn. His clinic offered funeral services after an abortion.
Randall said she previously worked at a fund in Philadelphia that raised money for women who needed abortions. One of the few cases referred to Tiller’s clinic, she said, was that of a 14-year-old girl who had been raped by her uncle, was 24 weeks pregnant, had been kicked out of her house and was suicidal.
Anne Rawley of Chesapeake, a retired Navy nurse, said it is complicated to perform late-term abortion and remembered women who got abortions before it became legal.
"To lose someone who's qualified to do that, it scares me, it scares me so much," she said.
The Rev. Valerie Coe Lowder, the church pastor, prayed for Tiller’s family, his church and for Roeder and his family.
“Surround those who have been shaken by tragedy with a sense of your present love,” she said in a prayer before the group.
Roeder, in a telephone interview from jail with The Associated Press, said more violence would come. He did not elaborate, the AP reported Sunday.
"I know there are many other similar events planned around the country as long as abortion remains legal," Roeder said.
Most anti-abortion groups denounced the slaying of Tiller.
Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-2957, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com
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re: keithb64840
You assert: "Every abortion completed is approved by God who has the power to stop/prevent any action by man."
My bible doesn't have that passage or even imply such. Which version are you using?
Even a wax museum character would know that "allowed" & "approved" are not synonymous.
While we agree that God has power to do whatever He sees fit, he obviously permits man to do all kinds of heinous, stupid, dangerous, unkind & immoral acts. Though I wouldn't dare try to speak for Him, perhaps it's His way of showing us how low we can go if we don't try to live according to His word.
psalm 139
you should check out psalm 139:16
Rick Warren author of A Purpose driven life and the pastor that did the invocation at Obamas inauguration has this to say in Chapter 2 of his book.
"Because God made you for a reason, he also decided when you would be born and how long you would live. He planned the days of your life in advance, choosing the exact time of your birth and death. The Bible says, "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!" [Psalm 139:16]"
So if God decided how long you would live, wouldn't that mean he is writing down only months for all of these babies? I thought we had freewill... or maybe your right he is just forcing these people to do heinous things in order to show off his powers. (it would not be the first time: read Exodus 9:12 - "But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses."
The LORD forced the Pharaohs heart to harden so that he would not listen to Moses and Aaron... Wow!
Tim
Can you give me a reason to refrain from murdering *anybody* that does not refer to a moral code of some civilization or religion?
Even many atheists are anti-abortion because it is pretty obvious to them that life begins at conception. Why is it okay to end it in the womb if it is not okay afterwards?
Don't say "mother's convenience" in your answer or I might have to ask why it is not then okay to murder someone blocking your way on the sidewalk if it would be more "convenient" for you with that person dead.
MARY
Mother’s covenience.
Ok so now you might ask “Why it is not then okay to murder someone blocking your way on the sidewalk if it would be more "convenient" for you with that person dead.”
If you did ask, I might answer: There are other alternatives… like going around them. It’s not possible now but I’d put money on it, that when mothers can suck the baby out and let if grow in a test tube instead of chopping it into pieces, Christians will have an issue with it.
Why is it that when a tick is on your neck you pluck it off and kill it? For your convenience?!? That tick is alive, even atheists agree that ticks have life at birth (some might even think they have life before then!) This theoretical tick is a living breathing (some might say God created) organism that is living off of your body. How can you destroy it so easily? You would hardly even notice it unless you saw it on you.
"...besides: God said you are not allowed!"
dennisp says: "Would be interesting to be a fly on the wall when Tiller stands/stood before his Maker."
Every abortion completed is approved by God who has the power to stop/prevent any action by man.
tired
Can't anyone give me a reason not to murder babies besides: God said you are not allowed!
Let's have a moral discussion that does not include... I don't do this because if I do that I will be tortured forever.
The Lutheran Church in America
Don't think I will be visiting or suggesting anyone I know to attend a Lutheran Church anytime soon. Whats the difference between this doctor and the nazi doctors who experimented on helpless humans? Who sat beside this monster in that church and failed to discern his murderous spirit?
choice is the difference
Are you like the Nazis in that you would not allow a woman to choose what happens to parts of her body?
Here's my take, for what
Here's my take, for what it's worth. At this point in time, whether a person agrees or disagrees, abortion is legal. Taking a gun, hunting down someone...regardless of how justified you think you are, is not legal.
So. If you believe that abortion should be illegal, then take it up with your legislators and handle it properly.
Manly men
Does the fact that more men are concerned with abortion issues belie modern societies idea that men should not have control over women?
Or is it that they are now voluntarily owning up and willing to pay their child support?