Eulogies, Protests At Abortion Dr. Funeral

Slain Kansas Doctor Remembered For Generosity, Optimism, Navy Service; Demonstrators Claim Murderer Was Sent By God

(AP)  Hundreds of people gathered Saturday to honor slain abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, eulogized by a longtime friend as a passionate and generous man who repeatedly overcame difficult challenges.

Tiller's funeral at College Hill United Methodist Church also drew small groups of protesters. Police and federal marshals provided heavy security.

Tiller, one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions, was killed by a gunshot last Sunday in the foyer of his own church, Reformation Lutheran, while he was serving as an usher and his wife was singing in the choir. His family had the funeral at the Methodist church to accommodate the large number of mourners.

His son, Maury, said the manner of his father's death resulted in an unimaginable outpouring of love and support for the family.

But he added: "I struggle with the manner he was welcomed into heaven."

Others recalled personal quirks that made him human.

Tiller's daughter, Rebecca, recalled how her father loved "Star Trek," and gave her a framed poster of Trekkie sayings for her apartment, which he promised her would bring her success if she read them each day before going out. Among his favorites were: "Live long and prosper," and, "When you go out to the universe remember, boldly go where no man has gone before."

He also was remembered for his generosity and sense of humor.

"Dear God, get heaven ready, because Mr. Enthusiasm is coming," said Larry Borcherding, of Overland Park, who first met Tiller a half-century ago when both were students at the University of Kansas. "Heaven will never be the same. It will be a better, better place with George in it."

About 700 people filled the church sanctuary and some 200 others watched a closed-circuit television broadcast in another room.

A large portrait of Tiller hung at the front of the sanctuary, and nearby was a wreath of flowers with the words "TRUST WOMEN." Some mourners wore buttons that said "Attitude is Everything."

Tiller's clinic in Wichita was among a few in the U.S. performing third-trimester abortions, and that made it a target of regular protests. Most were peaceful, but his clinic was bombed in 1986, and he was shot in both arms in 1993.

Borcherding recalled that immediately after that 1993 shooting, Tiller kept in close contact with him because Borcherding had lost his job.

"Who had a more boisterous, heartfelt laugh than George Tiller?" Borcherding said. "There are so many stories. I have many, many, many. Let's be sure to share them later."

Scott Roeder, a 51-year-old abortion opponent, was arrested a few hours after the shooting just outside Kansas City. He was charged two days later with the attack at the church, where he had occasionally attended services two months earlier.

About 30 abortion rights supporters lined a sidewalk outside the church Sunday, each holding a white carnation and one with a sign declaring Tiller, his family and his staff as "civil rights heroes." Many wore green or blue T-shirts commemorating Tiller's life, with the National Organization for Women's logo.

Most anti-abortion groups avoided the funeral, having denounced Tiller's shooting. But 17 demonstrators showed up from Westboro Baptist Church, known for picketing soldiers' funerals to present its message that their deaths are God's punishment for Americans' tolerance of homosexuality.

They held signs such as "God sent the shooter" and "Abortion is bloody murder."

Police kept them about 500 feet away from the church, mostly out of sight of people arriving for the funeral, although their shouts and singing could be heard from blocks away.

The Westboro Baptist demonstration drew about a dozen counter-demonstrators, and the two groups shouted insults at each other before the service and tried to drown each other out with singing.

"This has nothing to do with abortion," said Mark Voyles, an Army veteran from Derby who said he was upset about Westboro Baptist's attacks on soldiers.

The service also drew 50 motorcyclists from the American Legion Riders, who honored Tiller's service in the Navy. Their leader, Cregg Hansen, also from Derby, said Tiller's family asked them to be there.

"We don't get involved in politics," Hansen said. "We're here 120 percent for the veterans."

[ReginaFilangee]

"--The bible was written by God thru man to show man who is in control and an offer to save himself from himself."---Posted by jankebenzone at 11:01 PM : Jun 7, 2009

That's only true IF you buy into the written, specific agenda that certain humans who appointed THEMSELVES (specifically men) had when THEY wrote it to TELL YOU that, and the specific agenda that even more humans (again, specifically men) had when THEY conveniently "decided" for themselves which documents to include in the Bible they wanted you to believe, and which documents (ones every bit as valid and historically accurate) to discard and hide from you, because they didn't fit into THEIR specific agenda of what they wanted you to believe. God was not part of the process of the Bible. He "speaks" to each of us individually, in ways each of us can understand. He doesn't discriminate and only "tell" a handful of select people what he wants us to know. There are many places on Earth where people cannot read and/or have no access to written publications. Do you REALLY think that your God would rely upon a media unavailable to them to get his "word" to them???? Of course not. To do so would contradict the very concept of God.

[MrBag]

We shouldn't be wanting to spit on the grave of Mr Tiller - that's disrespectful to the dead. We should instead be praising God that one less killer of babies is gone and his death clinic has been shut down.

[jeff-fla]

--The bible was written by God thru man to show man who is in control and an offer to save himself from himself.
Posted by jankebenzone at 11:01 PM : Jun 7, 2009


If there was a god, why would he need man to write a book for him. Man wrote it to control others. Saying a god used man to write his book makes no sense.

[tommynutz]

Where is this grave so I can spit on it

[jankebenzone]

No, the soul enters at birth, with the first breath.


Otherwise, how do you explain all of the miscarriages amd stillbirths that God permits?
Posted by slownewsday_05 at 11:19 PM : Jun 7, 2009

You state that you don't believe in God or the bible yet you believe in God who permits miscarirages and instills souls to born babies????? You're reasoning speaks volumes about how mixed up you are.

[differnet]

Wow, can you tell that no one on this board is a theologian... nor have probably actually read anything by a theologian. Heck, I bet no one has ever even read St. Augustine's writing. People rant about what God meant, but until you have a burning bush in your back yard.... Look, God speaks to everyone. If you really wanted to understand God, you would stop ranting and start listening. He's in the voice of your neighbor and in the trees and stars. You are so busy ranting and saying what God wants to actually listen to him. Before you go off on thinking you know all about God, why don't you pick up a few texts by some of the great theologians of the past. And then spend some time down in a food pantry or homeless shelter. God isn't in what you think he wants.

[jankebenzone]

Goodnight everyone, remenber, you were given a life to live at conception, someone cared for you , extend that gift to another.

[lami987]

The best way to bring peace to both sides of abortion issue is to have both sides shoot at each other. The issue has never been resolved because right now only one side does the shooting.

[jankebenzone]

"Why would man write a book or collection of books which condemned himself? "

To control others. I'll explain more there if needed.
Posted by slownewsday_05 at 5:10 PM : Jun 7, 2009

Which man who wants control has ever condemmed himself? The bible was written by God thru man to show man who is in control and an offer to save himself from himself.

[jankebenzone]

Your veiw is based on mere human logic and understanding."

So is yours.


Your beliefs are no more valid than mine.
Posted by slownewsday_05 at 10:15 PM : Jun 7, 2009

Hitler, stalin and the like also fervantly believed that their veiws were valid, yet they were wrong. Life is from God and we cannot play God.

[jankebenzone]

Your last sentence does not make sense.


You seem to support the fact that both of us simply hold beliefs which are equally valid.


You believe in what you believe, and I'll believe in what I believe, and we'll let the law and Constitution dictate how we live together.


Sound fair???
Posted by slownewsday_05 at 9:33 PM : Jun 7, 2009

What part of life giver don't you understand? No one save the almighty can give life to anything.
Read again, I said my witness/believe is based on the highest authority, the creator of life. Your veiw is based on mere human logic and understanding. Our views are at opposite ends aqnd clash with respect to the santity of life. However I can not or will not stand against you as we all have the right to life and personal belife.

[jankebenzone]

Since when would the difference on our views make you more of an authority than I am.

It's my belief. That's all you have, too. So both of our opinions is equally valid.

Your beliefs are no more valid than mine.
Posted by slownewsday_05 at 4:20 PM : Jun 7, 2009

My own opinion or view is irrelevant and meaningless, however my believe and or witness is based on the eternal truth of the creator and giver of life, God.

Your view and or believe is based on only you and other like minded individuals.

Humans can take life but not give life,thus there is an obvious higher power than us.

[jankebenzone]

Life doesn't begin until birth. The soul does not enter the body until the first breath of air.
Posted by slownewsday_05 at 4:06 PM : Jun 7, 2009

Since when is a pro choicer the expert on souls or when life begins?
All of us including you, began life as a single cell. Those who think life begins as nothing, live and die a life as nothing.

[jankebenzone]

It doesn't.
Posted by slownewsday_05 at 4:00 PM : Jun 7, 2009

Oh! Who is the biggest supporter of life from begining to end, the christian or the atheist?

[jankebenzone]

They didn't kill their child, they aborted a fetus.

Posted by slownewsday_05 at 3:55 PM : Jun 7, 2009

De javu, hitler's nazi's did not kill a person, they disposed of a jew. Same logic used to justify murder.

[jankebenzone]

And if your religion is the basis for your protest, then mind your own business and let God judge those who have them.
Posted by slownewsday_05 at 3:43 PM : Jun 7, 2009

If "religion" constitutes the value of life then we should all be "religious".

[jankebenzone]

You don't seem to get it - no one gets pregnant just to have an abortion.


There is no death-lust there, as with the Nazis.


Posted by slownewsday_05 at 3:35 PM : Jun 7, 2009

But in the U.S. 45 million pregnant did kill their child , you call that lust for life?
Open your eyes to the fact that murder is murder , Jew, or baby. Once you can see that life is precious for any and all, you'll "get" it

[jankebenzone]

Posted by 123_-0 at 3:00 PM : Jun 7, 2009

Once the public sees that life is precious at all stages , then perhaps the abuse of life at all stages can be seen as a wortwhile endeavor to do away with. When the value of life means little, the abuse of life is a becomes a result.

[jankebenzone]

The difference is that the Nazis wanted to kill the Jews. No one gets pregnant hoping to have an abortion.


So - bad comparison. Try another.
Posted by slownewsday_05 at 2:53 PM : Jun 7, 2009

The nazi did not want the jew ,and killed them as the answer.
The irresponsible mon does not want the child and kills it as the answer
How much more comparision do you need to see that murder is murder, no matter how one dresses it? Or are you like the person on the outside of the concentration camp, blind and oblivious to what was going on the other side because hitler (U.S. courts) decreed the murder of innocents ( non persons) was lawfull?

[123_-0]

I went to the funeral of Dr. George Tiller yesterday and cannot get this event , his murder or his beautiful family out of my mind. I now believe the abortion debate needs a new perspective, a new point of reference towards a shared moral attitude which is capable of holding these extreme opposing dialectics in opposition without killing more people and dividing our nation into further "us versus them" mentalities. We need to collectively focus on the three million children already alive who are abused by a member of their own families every two seconds in this nation. Most of these children as well as 6 million others die of hunger each year. Every three minutes a woman is raped, beaten, abused, molested or vandalized. Most American children do not have health insurance. After Dr. Tiller's funeral I looked up statistics on the cultural conditions of women and children and am appalled. Rather than arguing we need desperately to change these conditions and become part of the solution. Else this ravaged and worn subject will kill us all.