I hesitate to get too far into this business. But there are well established arguments going back to St. Thomas Aquinas and earlier on Just War theory (when is it right to fight and kill an enemy, and under what conditions), and related theories of self defense. Self defense is justifiable, and is extended to our families and also our neighbors (as in Jesus’ question, “Who is our neightbor?”—which is to say just about anyone who needs our help). If you see some thug just about to murder your neighbor, you would be justified in intervening, and shooting the thug if that was the only way to prevent a murder.
Aquinas argues that we are duty bound to come to the defense our our neighbors if they are threatened with violence, and he bases this on the law of charity. Love of our neighbor demands it. Only so much force should be used to prevent unjust violence as is necessary, but sometimes deadly force may be the only means possible.
One requirement is that the threat should be immanent. It would not be right to shoot someone because they threatened to kill a neighbor next week. But it would be right to intervene if they were about to kill a neighbor.
Some argue, therefore, that it would be wrong to use force to prevent an abortionist from taking innocent lives, unless the threat was immanent. So, if you were in the operating room, and the abortionist was about to stick a pair of scissors into a baby’s head, it might be justifiable to act to prevent him. The problem with that, of course, is that you couldn’t be in that operating room without trespassing, and the abortionist would not allow you to be there.
I once read an article in First Things that made the arguments for killing abortionists from just war theory and self-defense theory and traditional theology, and seemed to demonstrate that it was justifiable to kill an abortionist. Then at the end of the article, however, the writer reversed course and said, of course you can’t do that.
I didn’t quite follow the logic. Why not? On the other hand, I admit that I wouldn’t feel right just going out and shooting an abortionist.
It’s a very difficult business, one of numerous difficulties that were introduced into our lives and culture by Roe v. Wade, which was clearly a wrong, unjust, arbitrary, and unconstitutional decision by SCOTUS. Still, going out and killing someone isn’t something I would choose to do.
One definite thing we can do is pray for the conversion of their conscience and their souls. Norma McCorvey (”Roe) and Bernard Nathason converted, heart and soul, to the pro-life cause.
Thanks for your thoughtful response. Personally, I have come down on both sides of the argument at various times in my life.
What strikes me - and bothers me - is the logical disconnect between what we as pro-lifers say we believe (abortion=murder) and yet we decry those who kill mass murderers. Yet, like you, it just feels wrong. But if it feels so wrong, is aborting a baby truly the moral equivalence of first-degree murder?
It will all be revealed in the end, I know. Thanks again for your reply.