Dr. George Tiller Murdered Today

George Tiller was murdered this morning while attending his Witchita Reformation Lutheran Church (ELCA). This is not an entry of celebration but a post of great sadness. As a person who murdered thousands of children, while hiding behind the guise of 'privacy' and 'healthcare', Dr. Tiller was also made in God's image. Setting aside what anyone thought of the man or his profession, he had as much right to life as the children he murdered. By taking his life, his murderer has done nothing to help the pro-life cause; indeed, abortions will continue to be performed with or without Dr. Tiller and the violence so many protest has been committed by a supposed 'pro-life' person.

Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has issued the following statement:

“I am saddened to hear of the killing of George Tiller this morning. At this point, we do not know the motives of this act, or who is behind it, whether an angry post-abortive man or woman, or a misguided activist, or an enemy within the abortion industry, or a political enemy frustrated with the way Tiller has escaped prosecution. We should not jump to conclusions or rush to judgment.

“But whatever the motives, we at Priests for Life continue to insist on a culture in which violence is never seen as the solution to any problem. Every life has to be protected, without regard to their age or views or actions.”

Who does the harvesting? Read Matthew 13:

²⁴ He put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

25 While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off.

26 When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, then the darnel appeared as well.

27 The owner's labourers went to him and said, "Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?"

28 He said to them, "Some enemy has done this." And the labourers said, "Do you want us to go and weed it out?"

29 But he said, "No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it.

30 Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn." '

+Deus misereatur+

EDITED TO ADD: Dr. Tiller leaves behind a wife, Mrs. Jeanne Tiller, four children and ten grandchildren. They released the following statement:

“Today we mourn the loss of our husband, father and grandfather. Today’s event is an unspeakable tragedy for all of us and for George’s friends and patients. This is particularly heart wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace.

We would like to express the family’s thanks for the many messages of sympathy from our friends and from all across the nation. We also want to thank the law enforcement officers who are investigating this crime.

Our loss is also a loss for the City of Wichita and women across America. George dedicated his life to providing women with high-quality heath care despite frequent threats and violence. We ask that he be remembered as a good husband, father and grandfather and a dedicated servant on behalf of the rights of women everywhere."

Sebelius Vetoes Bill on Late Term Abortion

As Governor of Kansas, the future U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius vetoed a bill which would have put limits on late-term abortion in her state. This comes just as her confirmation hearings have slowed the approval process. Confident that the Democrats will give her the backing she needs, she expressed her concern in the KS legislation that doctors would face intimidation if the bill had passed. I suppose when your bread is 'buttered' with the blood of dead children, you would have a skewed sense of right and wrong. The 60 votes necessary in the Senate are to be cast sometime in the week to come and Ms. Sebelius will soon be in charge of major decisions related to the health of over 300 million Americans. Not very comforting.

According to the NY Daily News:

Under the bill, physicians would have been required to report additional information to the state about the late-term abortions they perform, and prosecutors in multiple counties could pursue criminal charges over potentially illegal late-term procedures.

Also, doctors could have faced lawsuits if their patients later believed a late-term abortion violated the law. A woman's husband or a girl's parent or guardian also could file a lawsuit.

"The governor once again showed leadership in representing the great majority of Kansans who support reasonable restrictions while assuring access to health care," Peter Brownlie, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, said in a statement.

Who would have thought the likes of George Tiller were performing life-saving procedures. I guess she does.

Our Lady of Mercy, pray for us.

Sebelius' Confirmation Hits Speed Bump

From LifeSiteNews.com:

By Kathleen Gilbert
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A second financial revelation has cast further doubt on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' representation to the Senate Finance Committee of the nature of her relationship with late-term abortionist George Tiller.
Sebelius is President Obama's nominee for the secretary of the Health and Human Services (HHS). She is currently seeking Senate confirmation.
After Sebelius was recently found to have reported only a fraction of Tiller's $38,450 in donations to her insurance commissioner campaign, Operation Rescue yesterday released a copy of a 2002 letter from Tiller stating that he contributed $200,000 to his political action committee (PAC) to assist Sebelius' gubernatorial reelection.
In the letter addressed to members of ProKanDo, Tiller's political action committee, Tiller warns against Sebelius' "anti-choice" opponent Tim Shallenburger, and expresses regret that his "personal contribution of $200,000 to ProKanDo" was not enough "to alert voters to the anti-choice position of Mr. Shallenberger (sic)."
Tiller then urges constituents to raise another $250,000 to help spread the message that Sebelius' opponent "does not trust women."
(To view Tiller's letter, go to: http://operationrescue.org/pdfs/Tiller%20letter,%202002.pdf)
As governor, Sebelius consistently vetoed even minimal regulations on late-term abortions in the state, where Tiller carries out one of the busiest late-term businesses in the country. The Kansas-based Operation Rescue has also detailed an apparently cozy relationship between Sebelius and the notorious abortionist, whom the governor hosted in 2007 for a private dinner party along with his whole abortion staff in the governor's mansion.
Pro-life advocates who raised the alarm at Sebelius' nomination had urged committee members to question her about her association with the abortion industry during confirmation hearings. The topic, however, was not broached during the hearings.
But in a packet of Committee questions Sebelius answered that were published earlier this week, Sebelius downplayed her association with Tiller. In one question, Republican senator John Kyl asked: "Can you describe your relationship with Mr. Tiller? Has he ever contributed to your campaign or has your PAC ever received money from Mr. Tiller or a PAC related to Mr. Tiller?"
Sebelius responded: "I have been familiar with Dr. Tiller for many years because he lives and works in Kansas. Dr. Tiller, like many Kansans, contributed to my campaign for insurance commissioner. I received $12,450 over an eight-year period (1994-2001), which represented 1 percent of my total contributions during that time. Since that time, I have received no donations from Dr. Tiller or any PAC related to him."
After it was revealed that reports on file with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission show the figure to be closer to $38,450, the HHS called Sebelius' answer an "oversight" that would be corrected. However, a senior Senate Republican aide told the Christian Broadcasting Network that the GOP plans to probe the affair, which some see as having raised transparency questions as well as concerns over Sebelius' abortion agenda.
"This letter is the smoking gun showing that Sebelius continues to conceal the full extent of her financial support from Tiller," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman about the newest revelations of Tiller's support for Sebelius. "Kathleen Sebelius benefited from the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Tiller personally gave to influence the outcome of the 2002 election in her favor. This letter is undeniable evidence that Sebelius has yet to come clean with the Senate Finance Committee, and with the American people concerning her strong financial ties to abortionist Tiller."
"Sebelius just can't seem to tell the truth about her connections with Tiller. Her continued deception in this matter makes her unfit to serve in any political capacity, much less as the head of HHS, where she will have the ability to influence abortion policy," said Newman. "People want honesty and transparency in government, and Sebelius has proven that they will never get that from her."
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Sebelius Caught Underreporting Campaign Contributions from Notorious Abortionist: HHS Nomination May be in Jeopardy
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09041417.html
Senate Committee Silent on Sebelius Abortion Ties as Full Senate Vote is Delayed
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040313.html

See all +Ponderings+ posts on Ms. Sebelius  HERE.

UPDATE: Sebelius approved by Senate. Read HERE.
__________________________

Like Umbert the Unborn? Visit the National Catholic Register website or better yet, subscribe to the outstanding weekly publication! I have for years.

Sebelius Confirmation Hearings Upon Us

From the American Life League:

President Obama’s appointment of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for Health and Human Services Secretary is rock solid proof our new president has no concern for the health of Americans. Rather, Obama’s modus operandi has and will continue to be full-scale attack on the personhood of the weak, disabled and preborn.

Kathleen Sebelius, Obama’s pick to lead the nation’s chief agency for health care, has made no secret of her radical support for the abortion movement. Indeed she has praised, defended and treated to dinner at the governor’s mansion the notorious Dr. George Tiller – set to stand trial for performing illegal late term abortions. [read here about his recent acquittal]

Sebelius, an alleged Catholic, has been repeatedly rebuked by her archbishop for her pro-abortion work. In fact Archbishop Joseph Naumann has asked Sebelius not to receive Holy Communion in his archdiocese for her flagrant support for the intrinsic evil of abortion.

Appointing Gov. Sebelius to HHS Secretary is like appointing Dr. Jack Kevorkian as Surgeon General. Kathleen Sebelius poses a huge threat to the health and well-being of every single American, particularly those marginalized by the culture of death.

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

God, our Father in Heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son , Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.God, the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.

*Sign a petition here and read more about Sibelius' record on abortion here. Contact your senators here. Find +Ponderings+ blog entry, "Bleeding Kansas" here. Take action NOW.

*Hearings Schedule HERE

UPDATE April 3, 2009: I received this e-mail April 2 from Susan B. Anthony List:

Good News!

We just learned that a courageous Republican Senator has stepped up to block Kathleen Sebelius’ nomination from being voted on before the Easter Recess, which begins tomorrow. This Senator has now given us more time to build support to oppose Kathleen Sebelius.

Thanks to all who made calls to your Senators today! Now we must use this time to continue to educate Senators about Governor Sebelius’ extreme abortion record.

Bleeding Kansas

Coming to a nation near you.