The act of abortion itself is a heinous act of violence

From http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090613/OPINION10/906130303/1004/OPINION/The-act-of-abortion-itself-is-a-heinous-act-of-violence

The act of abortion itself is a heinous act of violence
June 13, 2009

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The article on the death of Dr. George Tiller states, "The doctor's slaying is an "unspeakable tragedy." This is particularly heart-wrenching "because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace."



As a Christian pastor for the past 50 years, I am distressed by the huge context of what is called "particularly heart-wrenching." The context is that violence and tragic death are so widespread that even in places of worship and peace, the people who occupy and govern such places are often unable to agree upon and pursue the principles of life consistent with the worship that enables peace to prevail.

I am also deeply distressed by the culturally abused and over-used expressions of "shocked and outraged," especially when used so selectively for political advantage by those kinds of leaders Jesus referred to as "Blind guides, who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel."

For example, the quote from our president that " ... differences ... over difficult issues such as abortion ... cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence." There still exist many Americans who consider the vast numbers of unborn children aborted over the past 35 years to be "heinous acts of violence." Abortion is a form of violence that often breeds more heinous acts of violence.

The Rev. Dr. Everett C. Isaacs, Greenwood