I was deeply saddened today to read in the news about a shooting this morning in a Kansas church. Although the shooting victim, Dr. George Tiller, was an abortion provider and therefore someone whose medical practices not all might be in agreement with, nevertheless, no matter what our feelings on this or any issue, it strikes me that violence is not the answer.
In fact, if those who were responsible for this attack were really trying to promote the sanctity of life, how can they justify the taking of another life in the process? As opponents of the death penalty have put it before: how does it make sense to kill someone in order to show that killing someone is wrong?
It strikes me that above all, on the issues of abortion, the death penalty, and so many others, what we need more than anything else is a strategy of non-violence, no matter what our individual convictions or feelings on each issue. We need to recommit ourselves to listening to our own consciences but also to not dehumanizing those we might differ with and above all not resorting to violence in the service of our convictions.
As we each continue to follow the voice of our consciences, may God's Spirit guide us to find common ground and recognition of our mutual humanity as we strive to make our world a more humane, just, and peace-filled place for all.
Peace,
Padre Chuck
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