Posted on 06/03/2009 11:13:53 AM PDT by lewisglad
In a commentary today, Creighton theologian R.R. Reno parses the justifications for killing an abortion doctor like George Tiller, and finds that alleged murderer Scott Roeder came up short–though barely. Reno says that “The blanket condemnation [by Catholics bishops] of ‘violence’ seems unhelpfully expansive” and so he wants to explain that the reasons Tiller’s killer was wrong “are not as simple as they seem.”
Reno says that under Christian thinking, such an action would have to satisfy three conditions: It would target the guilty, not the innocent; it would have to be necessary (principally to protect others); and it would have to be an act of self-defense that does not “violate the principle of legitimate authority” by being premeditated and calculated violence, as Tiller’s killing was. Reno says the suspect got two out of three:
The emphasis on “unlawful use of violence,” the evocation of “vigilantism,” and the description of Tiller’s killer as a “vigilante killer” are all exactly right. We are all sinners, but it is painfully obvious that Dr. George Tiller acted in wanton disregard for the sanctity of life. Killing him did not violate the principle of innocence. Moreover, he gave no evidence of stopping. As a result, perhaps something like the principle of necessity can be satisfied. But it is certainly obvious that his killer was acting as the law unto himself. He arrogated to himself the roles of jury, judge, and executioner. He violated the principle of legitimate authority.
That strikes me as far too close to justification, as others would argue that unjust laws shouldn’t stop us. With their redesigned site, the First Things blog now allows comments, and the first commenter on Reno’s thread pressed him to go further, asking how Reno’s argument would apply to Bonhoeffer or the Nazi resistance. Good question.
(Excerpt) Read more at commonwealmagazine.org ...
Hey, if you don’t want people *ganging up* on you, don’t post like a DUer in a twisted attempt to support abortion.
You’ve exposed your position for all to see. That cannot be hidden and is not a conservative, pro-life view.
This is FR, not DU. Do not expect your sick rationalizations for abortion to pass muster here.
You can play the martyr all you want, but nobody is buying.
Turning it around to make wagglebee look bad is fooling no one.
Thanks, n00bie.
I appreciate your input.
I beg to differ....
In retrospect, it's really irrelevant that you pinged everyone at the same time. He had already been asked for clarification, and notice the response to you was not clearing up the issue, but attacking you instead?
That's all the clarification I need.
My remarks were out of place.
The failure was mine in lack of clarification.
Martyr?
You reckon I should be burned at the stake or something?
Again???
this is just like the left calling every long gun an 'assault rifle.'
By remarks do you mean what you wrote in post #36?
Yes, those would be the ones.
I am going to request that they be deleted.
The logical fallacy being that death was the only way to stop Mr. Tiller’s abortion activities.
Request submitted.
Thank you.
Post deleted.
Blah, blah, blah...
You're just hateful and looking for a victim.
You have focused on me lately but I refuse to be one.
Kick your dog or something.
Entirely wrong on a couple of levels. If you'll check our membership dates we've been on FR a long, long, time, and we're friends. Mostly we know which friends will be interested in the same discussion and bring light on it. For example, you might find p-marlowe a bit more radical than wagglebee.
The other thing is that we're not interested in "defeating." Our aim is "conversion." :>)
It depends on my mood.
I'd really rather not be Catholic, thanks! ;-)
For example, you might find p-marlowe a bit more radical than wagglebee.
I thought P-Marlowe was a lawyer? They are even worse than Catholics! ;-)
Anyway, peace and ceasefire has been established.
Except for certain harridans who wish me burned at the stake.
But I've dealt with that before, no worries.
Aren’t you in for a surprise. We three friends are: Methodist (me); Catholic (wag); and Barn-Burnin’ Charismatic Evangelical (Marlowe).
We’re gonna make a Methocathecharigelical out of you!
(PS: Just adopt our viewpoint on Tiller, and we’re all OK with that. If you become a methocathecharigelical we’ll all have to visit your new denomination to see if we like it. :>)
P-M, could you loan Humble, the Severetus Flame-Proof Suit?
P-M, could you loan Humble, the Severetus Flame-Proof Suit?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.