An Eye For An Eye?

On Sunday, a murder occurred in a church in Kansas when a doctor known to perfom late-term abortions was gunned down as he, in the role of church usher, greeted folks arriving for worship.

Abortion is a terrible thing, a heart-wrenching decision for women who resort to it. I am not an advocate of abortion. I also do not believe it should be completely illegal. Everything possible should be done to avoid abortion, but it seems to me that women who struggle with the difficult issues pertaining to abortion face enough inner turmoil, guilt and shame that throwing them in jail is pointless. They are not a threat to society.

Those who attack, terrorize or kill doctors, nurses, and others in the name of Christian or moral opposition to abortion violate their own sense of "righteousness." How is killing to avenge, or prevent abortions righteous? And why is it that so many who are anti-abortion seem to be pro-death penalty? To me, the issue is very complex and serious.

The linked video is over nine minutes long, and it features clips of Bill O'Reilly of FOX News over the years talking about the doctor who was killed. There also is an interview of Frank Schaeffer, who wrote a book titled Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back. Schaeffer was a guest on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Most of those on MSNBC hold opinions and present worldviews that differ strikingly from that of Bill O'Reilly and FOX News.

In the interview and presumably in his book Frank Schaeffer has some strong statements to make regarding the intentions, strategies, and impact of the Religious Right on American life and culture.