Opinion: The sword belongs in its sheath. Killing of George Tiller a ‘Malchus Moment’
All who know the objective truth about the dignity and value of every human life should decry this horrible act of violence.
'Malchus', from the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
PrintWICHITA, KS (Catholic Online) - Reports indicate that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of George Tiller. The suspect was apprehended without incident. His name has now been released, Scott Roeder. He is 51 years old and was arrested 170 miles away from the scene of the murder. He has not yet been charged but will be as early as today. We have all heard the news by now. Just after 10 A.M. on Sunday morning, while he was attending church services at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas, Dr. George Tiller, the controversial provider of late term abortions, was shot and killed. Tiller was 67 years old.
I heard it while returning from Pentecost Sunday Mass. I was stunned! George Tiller was killed while attending a Lutheran Church Service on the day when Catholics and all who follow the Liturgical Calendar of the West celebrated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Birthday of the Church! On reflection, might I suggest that the coincidence of the timing of this wrongful act and the liturgical calendar presents an invitation to the Nation to reflect? We would be assisted by the counsel of Malchus, an obscure character found in all four Gospel accounts who, at the arrest of Jesus, had his ear severed by the Apostle Peter. The incident brought a strong reprimand from the Lord and has been the source of some very important reflections (as well as art) throughout Christian history concerning the necessity of rejecting violence. The name is a Greek form of Malluch, a common name at the time which actually means “counselor.” I suggest there is some counsel for all of us in this horrible act.
It is recounted in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50; John 18:10), a fact which makes it of particular importance to the writers and thus of great importance for serious readers. After all, the Evangelists were writing to different communities of early Christians. Their focus was often on different accounts from the earthly ministry of Jesus. John’s was the last Gospel to be written, reflecting a more mature reflection on the deeper purpose of the great events of the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The last words of his account give us some more insight into the importance of the fact that we find this story in all four Gospels: “It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written”. This account of Malchus is not simply an odd fact, but rather, an instruction and admonition.
John is the one who gives us the name of the servant. Luke the physician tells us that Jesus not only used the moment to teach, but healed the wound, reattaching the severed ear. Luke writes: “Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked, "Lord, shall we strike with a sword?" And one of them struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said in reply, "Stop, no more of this!" Then he touched the servant's ear and healed him."(Luke 22:48-51)
According to John’s account Judas came with a band of soldiers and servants sent by the high-priests and Pharisees to arrest the Lord. During that encounter, Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of this Malchus. He was strongly corrected by the Lord and told that the sword belongs in its sheath. In this Jesus taught them, and all who have followed Him since, a lesson about peace; the real Peace which he gave and which is to be practiced by all who bear His name. John records these words of Jesus given at another time to the disciples: “I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”. (John 14: 25 – 27)
All who know the objective truth about the dignity and value of every human life, from conception to natural death and at every moment in between, should decry this horrible act of violence. It must be unqualifiedly rejected and condemned within the Pro-Life community because of our unwavering conviction that every life, at every age and stage, has dignity and must be respected, protected and honored. This bedrock conviction should inform a “whole life/pro-life” ethic in those who gather under the banner of being Pro-Life. A moral analysis tells us that the killing of a defenseless George Tiller is similar to the killing of every defenseless child in the womb who dies due to procured abortion. Of course, the actions of Dr. Tiller in engaging in and promoting late term abortions during life were despicable. However, the action of the perpetrator in killing him was wrong. Both acts of killing are evil. Both must be completely rejected. Both should be decried by every person who is Pro-life.
The sword belongs in its' sheath!
We reject intentional abortion because every procured abortion is the killing of a member of our human family. The dignity of that little human person in the first home of the whole human race cries out for changing the unjust approach to giving protected status to intentional abortion in America. However, this dignity is present in all human persons, even those with whom we disagree and those whose actions we decry. The counsel of Malchus the servant speaks to all who have ears to hear! All human life has dignity! The reason Catholics and other Christians insist on a love of preference for the poor is because they have human dignity. The reason many of us reject capital punishment is because of the human dignity of even those who have committed crimes. The reason we insist that any act of war must fit a criteria of what is called a “just war analysis” is because we recognize the dignity, even of our enemies.
The wrongful killing of George Tiller presents a ‘Malchus Moment’ for the Entire Nation.
I heard it while returning from Pentecost Sunday Mass. I was stunned! George Tiller was killed while attending a Lutheran Church Service on the day when Catholics and all who follow the Liturgical Calendar of the West celebrated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Birthday of the Church! On reflection, might I suggest that the coincidence of the timing of this wrongful act and the liturgical calendar presents an invitation to the Nation to reflect? We would be assisted by the counsel of Malchus, an obscure character found in all four Gospel accounts who, at the arrest of Jesus, had his ear severed by the Apostle Peter. The incident brought a strong reprimand from the Lord and has been the source of some very important reflections (as well as art) throughout Christian history concerning the necessity of rejecting violence. The name is a Greek form of Malluch, a common name at the time which actually means “counselor.” I suggest there is some counsel for all of us in this horrible act.
It is recounted in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50; John 18:10), a fact which makes it of particular importance to the writers and thus of great importance for serious readers. After all, the Evangelists were writing to different communities of early Christians. Their focus was often on different accounts from the earthly ministry of Jesus. John’s was the last Gospel to be written, reflecting a more mature reflection on the deeper purpose of the great events of the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The last words of his account give us some more insight into the importance of the fact that we find this story in all four Gospels: “It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written”. This account of Malchus is not simply an odd fact, but rather, an instruction and admonition.
John is the one who gives us the name of the servant. Luke the physician tells us that Jesus not only used the moment to teach, but healed the wound, reattaching the severed ear. Luke writes: “Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked, "Lord, shall we strike with a sword?" And one of them struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said in reply, "Stop, no more of this!" Then he touched the servant's ear and healed him."(Luke 22:48-51)
According to John’s account Judas came with a band of soldiers and servants sent by the high-priests and Pharisees to arrest the Lord. During that encounter, Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of this Malchus. He was strongly corrected by the Lord and told that the sword belongs in its sheath. In this Jesus taught them, and all who have followed Him since, a lesson about peace; the real Peace which he gave and which is to be practiced by all who bear His name. John records these words of Jesus given at another time to the disciples: “I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”. (John 14: 25 – 27)
All who know the objective truth about the dignity and value of every human life, from conception to natural death and at every moment in between, should decry this horrible act of violence. It must be unqualifiedly rejected and condemned within the Pro-Life community because of our unwavering conviction that every life, at every age and stage, has dignity and must be respected, protected and honored. This bedrock conviction should inform a “whole life/pro-life” ethic in those who gather under the banner of being Pro-Life. A moral analysis tells us that the killing of a defenseless George Tiller is similar to the killing of every defenseless child in the womb who dies due to procured abortion. Of course, the actions of Dr. Tiller in engaging in and promoting late term abortions during life were despicable. However, the action of the perpetrator in killing him was wrong. Both acts of killing are evil. Both must be completely rejected. Both should be decried by every person who is Pro-life.
The sword belongs in its' sheath!
We reject intentional abortion because every procured abortion is the killing of a member of our human family. The dignity of that little human person in the first home of the whole human race cries out for changing the unjust approach to giving protected status to intentional abortion in America. However, this dignity is present in all human persons, even those with whom we disagree and those whose actions we decry. The counsel of Malchus the servant speaks to all who have ears to hear! All human life has dignity! The reason Catholics and other Christians insist on a love of preference for the poor is because they have human dignity. The reason many of us reject capital punishment is because of the human dignity of even those who have committed crimes. The reason we insist that any act of war must fit a criteria of what is called a “just war analysis” is because we recognize the dignity, even of our enemies.
The wrongful killing of George Tiller presents a ‘Malchus Moment’ for the Entire Nation.
- - -
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
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David the langauage or war has been used by many left wing activists for years. I don't recall seeing that term used here. Maybe you could help me out and provide some examples. I haven't seen any pro-life groups who didn't denouce the act. Any that don't do not understand what pro-life is about.
This is a very good article and I am happy to see spokespeople from the Church taking as strong a position against murder of the already-born as they do against abortion. I will be keeping Dr. Tiller's grieving family and friends in my thoughts and prayers, while continuing to do what I can to advocate against late stage abortions.
I have two vivid memories that serve as my examples of why I am against these procedures. First, when I worked on an OB-Gyn ward, I was asked to take the 6 month old fetus of a girl to the hospital mortuary. Only later was I told this otherwise perfectly formed little girl was the result of an abortion.
The second experience involved the birth of my daughter. Because she had breathing problems at birth, she was placed in an isolette (with oxygen) in the neo-natal intensive care unit for the first two days of her life. In the bassinette next to her was an infant boy who looked like he was suffering from a sunburn, all over, that was peeling.
I was aghast when I saw him and asked the nursery attendant about him. The peeling skin was the result of a failed saline abortion. The boy had survived and was being put up for adoption, as soon as he was recovered from the attempt to abort him. Each year since, on my daughter's birthday, I offer up a private prayer for that baby boy, now man, in hopes he turned out as well as my daughter has.
It is Gods will when we die not ours we should never end any human life be it in the womb or here walking the earth, fear not the one who can kill the body but do fear the one who can kill both body and spirit, think about it would God say yes to abortion, what do you think?
I would carry to term a baby that was likely to die after birth. There is no shame in natural death. Furthermore, there are cases in which the doctors have been wrong. Children who were expected to die shortly after birth but lived many years beyond that. Children with severe disabilities but also had extraordinary gifts in music, art, or math, etc.
While we may not know a woman's circumstance, heart, or condition of the fetus, God knows. A woman who chooses abortion is taking God out of the equation. God created that new life within her for a reason. Who are we to usurp God's plan?!
Circumstances, hearts, and fetal conditions are temporary and can change. I know I've been there. If I had aborted my son because of those circumstances, I would not have the fine young man who is in graduate school today.
Well explained, Deacon.
If a five year old girl was abducted from her home, her life was in grave danger and, let's assume, the only way to stop the perpetrator was to take his life, would it be just to do so? What if you have no personal connection to the little girl and are you just a bystander?
Each day I read this online news, I wonder where is the rage about all the babies being killed & women raped in Darfur? How can any war be just when innocent families & children are killed. There are many causes needing our concern. Am I pro abortion? No. Am I pro choice yes because I do not know the woman's circumstance, heart or condition of the fetus. Would you carry to term a fetus/baby with no brain, is blind & deaf & will die soon after birth? Just a thought about situations I know & work with.
Dr. Tillers acts of violence against the unborn and the bizarre ceremonies his clinic offered to their clients are gravely evil however, one must not under estimate God's capacity to convert the most corrupted heart. When someone takes justice into their own hands it's like telling God,I can't wait for your will to be done.We do not serve God's purpose by trying to send another to hell. An anti-abortionist will say no one know's what kind of child he or she might of become.Some one who is truly pro-life will say no one knows when God will convert him or her. The answer to both is the same. I guess we'll never know- They are dead !!
"Sounds like DHS was on the right track to me."
I'd have to disagree. One deranged individual with a gun in 11 years is not evidence of the sort of "right-wing extremism" of the scale that DHS's memos were targeting.
Consider well that 1 man is dead and another seriously wounded in a brutal murder at a Little Rock, AK armed forced recruitment center. Such centers are routinely the target of harassment and even threats by groups one could rightly label "left-wing extremists" but certain political and media institutions simply label "peace activists."
The recently revoked report by DHS regarding rightwing extremists, which had many pro-lifers in a tizzy, Jay Sekulow and the ACLJ included, contained the following statement:
“Rightwing extremism in the United States ...may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”
The latest on Tiller's murderer:
"The 51-year-old man authorities are holding today as a suspect in the assassination of prominent abortion doctor George Tiller has long discussed violence against abortion providers and belonged to right-wing militia groups, according to reports and acquaintances."
Sounds like DHS was on the right track to me.