Pro-Life Group: Scott Roeder Promoted Violence on Abortion, Not Pro-Life Ethic

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 29, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Pro-Life Group: Scott Roeder Promoted Violence on Abortion, Not Pro-Life Ethic

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 29
, 2010

Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) — A leading pro-life organization responded to the guilty verdict a jury handed down today convicting Scott Roeder of first-degree murder in the shooting death of late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller. The National Right to Life Committee strongly condemned Roeder’s actions.

As LifeNews.com reported, a jury found Roeder guilty of killing Tiller and two counts of aggravated assault for threatening members of Tiller’s church, where Roeder admitted he shot and killed Tiller.

Hundreds of pro-life groups released statements at the time of the shooting last year condemning Roeder and saying his actions didn’t constitute the kind of respect for human life they foster.

Today, National Right to Life executive director David O’Steen told LifeNews.com just that.

"The actions last May of which Scott Roeder was just convicted are antithetical to the work of the pro-life movement to protect the lives of unborn children and their mothers," he said. "NRLC strongly opposes any use of violence as a means of stopping the violence that has killed more than 52 million unborn children since 1973."

O’Steen explained that NRLC and the pro-life movement "has always been involved in peaceful, legal activities to protect human lives threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia."

"We have always, and continue to, oppose any form of violence to fight the violence of abortion," he said.

O’Steen said opposing abortion-related violence is something NRLC takes personally.

"NRLC has had a policy of forbidding violence and illegal activity by its staff, directors, officers, affiliated state organizations and chapters," he said, adding the group’s "sole purpose is to protect human life."

O’Steen said the pro-life movement would "continue to work in educational, legislative and political activities to ensure the right to life for unborn children, people with disabilities and older people."

For him, "peaceful solutions to social problems" involve "helping women and their children and do not involve violence against anyone."

Related web sites:
National Right to Life Committee – https://www.NRLC.org

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