I apologize in advance for another post about the trial of Scott Roeder but, now that the trial has started, interesting news stories keep popping up. The New York Times has a lengthy article with the latest updates of the trial, as well as information about a development that’s been unfolding… namely, how schisms have begun to develop among anti-choice activists about how to approach the ongoing trial (more information on this can also be found here).

Some prominent “pro-life” individuals, such as Troy Newman of Operation Rescue, have attempted to distance themselves from Roeder (for reasons the linked Wikipedia article makes fairly clear). Others, such as Randall Terry (who actually founded Operation Rescue but is no longer affiliated with the group), have been more ambiguous with their sentiments. According to the Times piece, Terry has refused to condone or condemn Roeder, but also made it a point to mention that “George Tiller shed the blood of 60,000 innocent children.” I could write several blogs about Terry alone (his hypocrisy is something to behold, but I think his reluctance to even feign sympathy for the Tillers says enough on its own.

But even as they try to distance themselves from Roeder, the fact remains that it’s organizations like Operation Rescue, who railed against Tiller for years, that are at least somewhat accountable for the circumstances that led to Dr. Tiller’s death. Their message was that Dr. Tiller must be stopped, and their tone and sentiment said “at any cost.” Roeder’s own words make this frighteningly apparent. From the Times (emphasis mine):

So, Nola Foulston, the prosecutor asked him, do you feel you have successfully completed your mission?

“He’s been stopped,” Mr. Roeder said.

But do you feel you have successfully completed your mission, she asked again.

“Yes,” he said.

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