Not surprised. There are a lot of radicals out there.

I feel bad for the family.

I can't say I'm surprised, no. For so many radical pro-life advocates, the sanctity of life seems to only count when that life is in utero.

well said xxstardust- i couldn't agree more!

True, true xxstardust. I was thinking the same thing.

for the extreme pro lifers they see it as an act of God to kill a person who in their eyes is a mass murderer of innocents, much like the death penalty is for a serial killer, its no different to them.

That said it is never right to kill a human being, unborn or living.

This is so unbelievable.
I like the quote very much... But I will never understand those violent acts.

Dr. Tiller's life is a great loss. He put his own life on the line every day to help women and their families.

But of course Obama is outraged. Anyhow, I don't understand the double standards of the murderer.

Soldiers put their life on the line, Tiller was not a hero.

I'm disgusted and saddened, but not surprised. This isn't the first time anti-choice nutbars have committed hideous acts of violence. And Dr. Tiller's clinic has been bombed before, and he was previously shot.

He put his life on the line every day for women's health, and that's definitely heroic.

nope. not heroic.

I'm not so sure what the "Say What" is about here. Obama's quote is fine.

I was much more concerned with this quote from Randall Terry, a prominent pro-life advocate.

[b]"I am more concerned that the Obama Administration will use Tiller's killing to intimidate pro-lifers into surrendering our most effective rhetoric and actions. Abortion is still murder. And we still must call abortion by its proper name; murder."[/b]

Say what, dude?

Spacekatgal- I agree, I noticed that a lot of antichoicers have to defend this killers actions while condemning them at same time (i.e look at the fifth comment). It makes no sense. The man was killed, express your condolences and that's it.

UMMMMMMMM everybody should be upset. This was shot going to church. Doesn't matter his occupation and anybody who feels differently....... I just don't have any kind words for them.

Soldiers put their life on the line, Tiller was not a hero.

nope. not heroic.

Do you see where I'm losing you. You say soldiers are heroes because they put their lives on the line but so did this man. But he's not a hero??? Your logic faulty.

He risked his life on a daily basis to protect women's rights, and help them in God only knows, the most difficult decision of their lives. That to me is the definition of heroic. He was shot in both of his arms years ago, his clinic bombed, and now this. And at church while he was an usher. I will continue to pray for his family, and I hope the alleged murderer gets the death penalty. If he can justify killing because the Dr. was a "mass murderer", then I can justify his dying for murdering Dr. Tiller.

Ditto to Frank Y Ava's comment. He was definitely courageous and did put his life on the line while he performed his duties as a doctor. Granted, it was for something controversial but he did it because these women needed an option and someone to assist them. //

I understand Cat girl's logic. It's sad that he was killed and his murderer was in the wrong. There's no excusing that.

Killing viable fetuses does not make someone a hero though. And since numerous studies have shown that abortion has lasting negative effects on women both physically and mentally, I'm not sure what he provided would qualify as 'high-quality' care.

Again, I'm not excusing his murder.

To the Mousie a 8:29am. You do know that MOST of those late term abortions are made due to medical reasons, right? Those fetuses are not viable: they might have terrible genetic defects or some other problems that would kill them and made their short lives a hell.

Nobody aborts a later term pregnancy because they felt like it. Either the baby of the mother are in risk of death for that to happen. What this doctor did was heroic because 1) he was helping those women with such awful situations and 2) he was helping them even though he had already been atacked before by fanatics.

This is a terrorism act, it has no other name. The anti-choice groups helped fuel this even if they didn't pull the trigger when they insult women going to clinics or go to a counter-demonstration in suport of the family of this man.

This is so upsetting . . .

This man provided a safe, sanitary and a healthy place for a woman to have an abortion, they were fully informed, gave their total consent, underwent the procedure under the care of a trained professional and were cared for after wards.

How is that a bad thing? Tiller provided it. THAT is heroic. He saved many lives by doing that, by providing a proper and safe place for this to occur. Instead of forcing women to attempt it themselves, or pay a man with a coat hanger to do it for them.

Today is a sad day, because now there are fewer brave people in this world who would do such a thing.

Calimie, WELL SAID! *applause*

Most mother who are that far along also get second opinions on their child before aborting.

I was almost aborted because the doctor told my mother I was severely disabled and would have had no quality of life. Mum (the gem that she is) got a second opinion that proved the first doc wrong.
These decisions aren't made because the mother doesn't want a child, they have a lot of time to make that choice and to act upon it.

I don't think the "Say What?" quotes are actually supposed to be controversial in themselves, but rather the larger issues surrounding the circumstances under which they're made.

What I hate about the media coverage surrounding this: the ONLY reason this guy was murdered was because he performed late-term abortions. He was a doctor and director of a women's clinic. I'm sure that he did MORE that just abortion procedures. That is what his family meant by him providing "high-quality health care". And to continue practicing at all in spite of the fact that people were trying to kill him [he'd been shot before because of it, you know!] because the clinic also performed abortions is remarkable. I don't know if that makes him heroic, but it *does* make him brave.

He did OTHER things as a doctor. That's all I'm saying. I would hate to be remembered only for controversy and not for the many women he has helped, including those NOT seeking abortions.

As far as murdering Tiller in church: it was a cowardly move. The suspect is said to be part of an anti-government radical group, so nobody knows yet if this was politically motivated or ethic/religious motivation [which would make murdering in church that much more disgraceful] or just a personal vendetta held against Tiller.

Simply, it was NOT the murderer's place to judge or convict Tiller for what he believes or what he has done. Vigilante justice is not justice, and even if abortion is wrong - two wrongs don't make anyone right. Radical pro-lifers like this murderer miss that point a lot.

His killing is not justifiable.
Him killing babies is not justifiable.

Under no circumstances should killing a human being born or unborn be heroic. So neither him nor his murderer are heroes.

So please people do not call him a hero for risking his life to protect and help other women. I'm sure he was being paid tons of money for it.

Leave the word "HERO" to the ones who deserve it.

Can we please stop labeling these people as pro-life, after yesterday I think it is pretty clear that they do not value the sanctity of life.

"Nobody aborts a later term pregnancy because they felt like it."

wanna bet? quit living in the dark people. it happens and this man perpetuated it.

and once again anonymous comments.....laughable.

Totally agree with the previous 3 comments! Killing this man was totally wrong, but some of the things he did make me sick. He did abortions as late as 38 weeks....disgusting.

Cater, by your logic, are soldiers who kill other people heroes because they kill people who kill other people?

It is difficult to ignore the sadness surrounding abortion. It is tragic that fetuses lose their potential to be born. Many pro- choice people still feel that abortion is killing someone. However, circumstances surrounding certain abortions- medical issues, rape, incest... make me sure that I cannot support it being made illegal.

Shooting a man in his church, or at all, falls on the WRONG side of the spectrum according to my moral compass.

it's sad that he was shot,and i feel for his family,but judging anybody who is pro-life because of this is wrong too.there are extremists on both sides of the matter.hopefully the killer received the punishment he deserved for taking someone else life.

NO sham, Soldiers are heroes because they are defending our country, our rights, protecting our welfare. Not because they kill. Just as Police are heroes for the same reason.

Dr. Tiller was defending women's rights, he was protecting the welfare of the women who sought his help, and he was defending a woman's right to choose. As it has been already said many times. the women who went to him were not 15 year old girls who made a mistake, they were women and their husdands, who wanted a child, but made a difficult choice due to medical reasons, such as fetal anomolies and genetic condition which are not compatible with life. Dr. Tiller treated these women with kindness and compassion during one of the most trying times of thier lives.

CG can you please provide evidence where doctors just kill babies for no reason? I would really love to know. Otherwise I am just going to think that it is another story anti-choicers tell themselves to further their cause.

I wasn't saying soldiers aren't heroes. I included the words "by your logic" pertaining to "an act of God to kill a person who in their eyes is a mass murderer of innocents." I noticed the justification for murder, then the mention of soldiers, who do kill people.... Devil's advocate, the definitions of hero and sinner are subjective. One group for the country, one saving women's lives in some cases, both killing people. It was just a connection I made. Also, it's pretty apparent at this point that Tiller DID put his life on the line as well. Hence his untimely demise.

I dont answer anonymous questions sorry, its like you dont exist.

this is so sad. I agree with most people on here that what he did was heroic.

I don't know that he was only performing for women that desperately needed the procedure for health reasons... I don't know the numbers. For those women, I feel that he was performing a really sad and unfortunate, but necessary procedure. For the women that simply didn't want to have a baby right now, I don't think he was doing something heroic. I'm not really pro- abortion, but I'm anti- legislation against it. I don't consider that to be one and the same, really, but it's an odd stance, and maybe confusing to some people. I think it's hard to say that one side or the other in this debate is 100% right, I'm not God. Everyone has their opinion. I'm not full of rage because others disagree.

I think the act of vigilantism is wrong. I heard that they have captured the suspect.

Well, disclaimer: if this is an act of a vigilante though, we'll see with evidence and so on the motive of why this person killed Tiller.

Sham28: I understand that you might be anti-abortion for unplanned pregnancies (I wouldn't do that myself but I as I understand it, it's a women's right) but in this case, (and not having numbers either) I'm pretty sure all those late-term pregnancies he ended were those of wanted babies who, for whatever reason, had some serious illnesses or were threatening the life of the mother.
I said above that no one ended a third pregnancy because they felt like it. Can you imagine being pregnant, not wanting the baby, and waiting SIX MONTHS to end it? It doesn't happen. Unwanted pregnancies are ended way earlier. At that point in time is just easier (and cheaper) to just go along with it.

What those women were going through was hell: they had to abort their baby or it will only lead them to suffering or worse. That man helped them with that and offered them solace even after being shot and having his clinic bombed, blockaded and vandalized by some "pro-life" terrorist. That, in my book, is a HERO and now, unfortunately, a martyr.

how twisted humanity has become.

Indeed, CG, indeed.

Caterpillar, yes, it's twisted when someone thinks they're "pro-life" and kill someone in the process.

I am pro life and will shoot someone if they come into my house, am I a hypocrite?

That man wasn't going to anybody's house. He went to a Church. Women went to him for help.

Your analogy doesn't apply here.

I certainly don't think so.

If you end a life because that person could very likely hurt or kill you, you are simply chosing to defend your own life.

Striking parallel: If a woman ends the fetus's life because she would hemorrhage to death if she attempted to deliver it, she choses to defend her own life.

Cater, I do absolutely respect your opinion on this. But obviously we could go on forever about this and my workday is over.

I don't know that I'd go so far as to call this guy "heroic", but he certainly did help people. I agree with Calimie with what she said on why late-term pregnancies are terminated, and I feel that would really be the only acceptable reason for an abortion, as they really can hurt the mothers and families in many ways. My pastor would say that it doesn't matter how bad the child's life would be because it would still be murder, but I think letting an innocent child suffer would be even worse.

I don't like the idea of abortions done "just because," but if there is a serious medical issue that threatens the life of either the mother or the child, then I really don't think there is any other alternative.

Yes how twisted humanity has become that a man would kill another man in a Church service

For anyone interested, there was a study done in the reasons why women get late term abortions. These were the reasons cited and the percentage of women who got a late term abortion for said reason:

71% Woman didn't recognize she was pregnant or misjudged gestation
48% Woman found it hard to make arrangements for abortion
33% Woman was afraid to tell her partner or parents
24% Woman took time to decide to have an abortion
8% Woman waited for her relationship to change
8% Someone pressured woman not to have abortion
6% Something changed after woman became pregnant
6% Woman didn't know timing is important
5% Woman didn't know she could get an abortion
2% A fetal problem was diagnosed late in pregnancy
11% Other

Source: http://www.holysmoke.org/fem/fem0543.htm

As you can see, only 2% were done because of a fetal problem. And if there is an actual problem past 22 weeks or so that threatens the mother's life, (ethical) doctors will usually try to wait as long as they can and then DELIVER the baby and try to save its life-they don't just give the woman an "abortion" and not give it a chance at life.