Wow. GREAT LTTE from a Wichita minister re: Operation Rescue

[proud2BlibKansan]

Letter to the editor: Tiller's murder was a logical effect


As the former pastor of Reformation Lutheran Church, I feel compelled to respond to the events that have unfolded since the execution of George Tiller in the narthex of his church home on May 31.

During the five years I served as pastor of that congregation, I came to know Tiller extremely well as a doctor, a man and a child of God. Through our common struggles and our respected differences, we appreciated each other's roles in life.

What happened to Tiller on May 31 was, by anyone's standards, unspeakably horrific and altogether abhorrent, regardless of one's view regarding the nature of Tiller's work.

I write partly in response to the letter by Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue ("All life is valuable," July 3 Letters to the Editor). Newman was eloquent as usual. However, what made me choke on my corn flakes was his pious and sanctimonious refutation that the so-called pro-life movement was in any way responsible for Tiller's murder.

What has continued to amaze me over the past month is the way in which the religious right and other far right-wing organizations and commentators have so vociferously attempted to distance themselves from the cumulative and logical effects of their vitriolic and incendiary rhetoric.

Since the day I arrived as pastor of Reformation Lutheran Church, to the day that I left that position, I was inundated with threats of violence and confronted with a brand of terrorism that was insidious and unconscionable.

Operation Rescue and friends frequently disrupted the sacred services of a people whose only fault was welcoming all to worship. They threatened, harassed and intimidated everyone from small children to elderly members without regard to the consequences of their speech.

The tactics of such pro-life activists were anything but respectful of life. Instead, they used cowardly, hateful, violent, provocative and mean-spirited ways to goad kind and faithful worshippers. In fact, their outrageous and contemptible behavior was in all actuality the major spoke in the wheel of anarchy that led to the murder of a good and decent man and the endangerment of countless others.

THOMAS J. HALLSTROM

Wichita

http://www.kansas.com/opinion/story/886077.html

[MADem]

1. This was the pastor of Tiller's church. Gutsy guy. K/R. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. There have been some really great letters in the Wichita paper

That's so great to see. Glad there are some sane people in Wichita.

[Warpy]

3. This is the type of minister the faith needs so desperately

He's calling the Dispensationalists on their bullshit. Finally.

I would imagine having someone close to him murdered in front of him has traumatized him terribly. I hope he can find peace. I hope finding that peace inspires other mainstream ministers to stand against the fake Christian solidarity that has protected Dispensationalists for a century.

Most of the true evil in the world wasn't caused by religion itself, but by the earnest religious people who want to remove sin from everybody else's life while keeping their own sins of pride, avarice, intolerance, and anger sacrosanct.

Rev. Hallstrom has gotten the point. He should be listened to.

[conscious evolution]

4. Guys like him

give me hope that christianity may still have some redeeming qualities.
I hope he keeps speaking up to those who have hijacked his religion.

[myrna minx]

5. Excellent letter. Thanks for posting. K&R n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. You are most welcome

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Rev. Hallstrom, my hat's off to you

for speaking truth. Let's hope many listen, and condemn Operation Rescue for inciting violence and hatred.

[Just Saying]

7. Bravo, Pastor!

Bravo!

[reflection]

9. Where's that applause smiley?

Oh, here it is.
:applause:

[xchrom]

10. ...

'Operation Rescue and friends frequently disrupted the sacred services of a people whose only fault was welcoming all to worship.'

[ColbertWatcher]

11. Damn. k+r, n/t