"You Shall Not Murder" Exodus 20:13

I am appalled by how some of the mainstream media has covered the assassination of Dr. George Tiller this past week. The New York Times blog asked "Is It a Moral Murder?" The Religious News Service blog asked, "Is there Biblical evidence for murdering someone to potentially save others from death?" I heard TV commentators expressing surprise that Dr. Tiller was a long term member and lay leader in a Lutheran church, as if Christian abortion provider or pro-choice Christian were oxymorons.

Some anti-choice leaders have expressed concern that the fact that the murder was in a church will hurt their movement. But, I believe that the location of the shooting was deliberately chosen to shatter the entire Church community that embraced Dr. Tiller and his family as members. This unspeakable tragedy is further magnified because it took place in a sacred community worshiping God together. The fact that this past Sunday was Pentecost, a day celebrating full inclusion of all people, is not lost on those of us who are people of faith.

Scripture neither condemns nor prohibits abortion, but the Ten Commandments couldn't be more direct on murder. But the very next chapter after the Ten Commandments are introduced directly addresses the difference between the value of fetal life and the life of the mother. The "penalty ...life for life" does not apply to fetal loss. (Exodus 21:22).

Abortion is always a serious moral decision. To those who think women have late term abortions otherwise, please read their stories of the devastating life situations that bring them to doctors like Dr. Tiller. Religious leaders from around the country have raised their voices to condemn this murder and to uphold the safety and rights of women and medical providers.

And to my colleagues in the press, murder is never morally justified. Your Bible tells you so.

Comments

[TryToBeFlexible]

Bible thumpers always only use the passages that support their own prejudices and bigotries, and ignore all the rest.

[Berettasskeeter]

Odd! I read Exodus 21:22. It specifically calls for restitution or retribution! Try re-reading, and understanding, your bible. Though I must say that I'm not surprised that you don't understand what you read.
Semper fi

[calluna]

Didn't understand what she read? How is it ambiguous?

"If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely [sometimes translated as "has a miscarriage"] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot...."

It's serious injury to the MOTHER that's the cause for retribution, not the child.

[ESerafina42]

The Jewish interpretation of that is a miscarriage in the first case and death of the mother in the second. Jewish law also has traditionally always put the mother's life/welfare first, up until the moment the head appears, when the two have to weighed equally. It even allows specifically for the procedure that is often referred to as partial birth abortion to save the mother.

Interestingly, I was at a panel discussion with rabbis from all of the four major movements (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Reconstructionist), and abortion was the ONLY thing they all agreed about, though with different nuances. NONE of them would have banned it in all circumstances.

[Berettasskeeter]

It doesn't say anything about premature birth. It speaks of injury. While the previous comments may be correct about Jewish legal interpretations, the miscarriage of a baby would have been taken as serious injury to me, as a father!
Semper fi