Press Release
Religious Leaders Seeking Common Ground on Abortion Condemn George Tiller's Murder, Say Act Offends Us All
In reaction to the tragic murder of Dr. George Tiller, religious leaders and groups who hold different views on the legality of abortion, but a shared commitment to working towards common ground solutions to reduce abortions by addressing its root causes issued the following statement this morning:
"We were shocked and saddened to hear that Dr. George Tiller was murdered at his church yesterday morning. Such violence is an affront to the teachings of all faith traditions and an attack on civil society. Houses of worship have served as sanctuaries providing a safe harbor even in times of widespread violence for millennia -- that this act took place in Dr. Tiller's church where he was serving as an usher on Sunday morning only underscores its abhorrence. We condemn it, and we pray for Dr. Tiller's family, church and community.
"As people of faith working to create civility and common ground on abortion, this reprehensible attack reminds us of our moral obligation to respect the humanity of those on both sides of this issue. Wherever we stand, this act offends us all."
Dr. Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland A Church Distributed
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Actions Center for Reform Judaism
Dr. David P. Gushee, Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics, Mercer University
Melissa Rogers, Director, Center for Religion and Public Affairs, Wake Forest University Divinity School
Ron Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action
Rev. Susan Thistlethwaite, Former President, Chicago Theological Seminary
Chris Korzen, Executive Director, Catholics United
Emilie M. Townes, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Yale Divinity School
Steve Schneck, Director, Life Cycle Institute, The Catholic University of America
Rev. Derrick Harkins, Senior Pastor, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church
Glenn Stassen, Professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary
Rev. Meg Riley, Director of Advocacy and Witness, Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., Pastor Emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
Faith in Public Life
Sojourners
