After an atrocity, such as the assassination of Dr. George Tiller today, statements of denunciation are not unusual. This diary offers three such statements below the fold, printed without comment. All of the quoted matter comes from the quoted sources, the first an Associated Press report, and the second and third, two press releases distributed by Christian Newswire.
Before sharing these official statements of denunciation, I want to offer my humble condolences to the friends and loved ones of a very brave man. I hope today's savagery leads to measures to protect those who seek to help and protect women in this nation and around the world.
The Associated Press, September 12, 2001:
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan's hard-line Taliban rulers rejected suggestions that Osama bin Laden, whom they are sheltering, could be behind the devastating terrorist attacks...
Bin Laden praised the people who carried out the attacks in Washington and New York, Ismail said, quoting the aide. "But he had no information or knowledge about the attack" ahead of time, the Palestinian broadcaster added...
Earlier, Afghanistan's foreign minister, Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, insisted that bin Laden hjad nothing to do with this week's terrorism.
Asked whether his fundamentalist Taliban government condemned the attacks, he said: "We have criticized and we are now again criticizing terrorism in all its forms."
Christian Newswire, May 31, 2009:
Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info@operationrescue.org
Operation Rescue releases the following statement attributable to Troy Newman, President:
We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down. Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller's family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ
Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry's statement. From Christian Newswire, May 31, 2009:
WASHINGTON, May 31 Christian Newswire -- Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, led protests against George Tiller's late-term abortion clinic in Wichita in 1991.
Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue states, "George Tiller was a mass-murderer. We grieve for him that he did not have time to properly prepare his soul to face God. I am more concerned that the Obama Administration will use Tiller's killing to intimidate pro-lifers into surrendering our most effective rhetoric and actions. Abortion is still murder. And we still must call abortion by its proper name; murder.
"Those men and women who slaughter the unborn are murderers according to the Law of God. We must continue to expose them in our communities and peacefully protest them at their offices and homes, and yes, even their churches."
Randall Terry is available for comment at 904-687-9804.
Feel free to discuss the merits of these statements in comments.