The Conviction of Scott Roeder. The Sword belongs in its Sheath.

Scott Roeder was properly found guilty of premeditated, first-degree murder in the Pentecost Sunday shooting death of George Tiller.

WICHITA, KS (Catholic Online) - On Friday, January 29, 2009, the jury returned its verdict in Wichita, Kansas. It took them only 37 minutes. Scott Roeder was properly found guilty of premeditated, first-degree murder in the Pentecost Sunday shooting death of George Tiller. Scott Roeder made very clear to the Justice system what he had done. He admitted on the stand that he walked into a Church that Sunday morning, found an unarmed George Tiller, an usher in the Church, pointed the gun at him and shot him in the head in order to kill him. In short, he intentionally murdered a man.

I remember the day I heard the news of this crime. I was 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! I suggested that the coincidence of the timing of this wrongful act and the liturgical calendar presented an invitation to the Nation to heed the counsel of a man named 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."

This weekend as we read the news accounts of the conclusion of this very public trial, I present the insight once again.

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 directive 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 those 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 - have rightly decried Roeder's horrible act of violence. It has been unqualifiedly rejected and condemned within the Pro-Life community. We hold an unwavering conviction that every life, at every age and stage, has human dignity and must be respected, protected and honored. That is why we cry out against Roeder's evil act in killing George Tiller.

This bedrock conviction should also 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. The actions of Dr. Tiller in engaging in and promoting late term abortions during his life were despicable. However, the action of the perpetrator in killing him was wrong. Both acts of killing were 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 protected status given 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, this writer included, 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 intentional killing of George Tiller was a 'Malchus Moment' for the Entire Nation. The just conviction of Scott Roeder is as well. We all agree that what Scott Roeder did was wrong. The reason we all agree is because we know that the taking of innocent human life is always wrong. That knowledge does not require any "religious" conviction. We know it because it is written in our hearts. There is a Natural Law which joins us together and has formed a basis for our system of criminal justice.

We also know that the child in the womb is one of us, a human person, and our neighbor. This fact also does not require any "religious" conviction. It is a scientific fact. Let's be honest, we operate on our littlest neighbors now, in the womb, and place them back to finish that precious time of preparation before they are born. When, in a criminal act, a child in the womb is killed as a result of an act of aggression against her mother, we rightly prosecute the criminal for two homicides. When a mother loses her child during the pregnancy we use language which reflects the truth and assists her in her mourning, saying "she lost her baby."

This rightful conviction of a man who committed an intentional act of killing another human person presents another "Malchus" moment for the United States of America. The sword belongs in its sheath.

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