See Updates at the end of this post…

Oh no, oh no, oh no.

While the details are still sketchy at this point and nothing is yet known about the killer, what is clear is that the murder of notorious abortion doctor George Tiller is a horrible thing. It is a horrible thing for George Tiller for he has lost his life and lost any chance he had of repentance. I pray that he sought forgiveness before the end and I pray for his eternal soul. It is a horrible thing for his family and I pray for them as well.

It is also a horrible thing for the pro-life movement. The murder of Tiller validates in the minds of some (many?) that pro-lifers are every bit the extremists that they claim we are.

It is imperative that every single voice of the pro-life movement condemn his murder in unequivocal terms. Murder is murder. An intrinsic evil no matter what the end.

Please pray for George Tiller and pray for all the children whose lives hang in the balance. More to come.

Update: Foxnews, in its front page lede says that manhunt is on for the shooter. (Update: Shooter Caught – See Below)

Update II:
via KWCH

Latest Update:

Police say Tiller’s body was removed from the church at 12:30 Sunday afternoon. The FBI is involved in the investigation.

Nationwide alert issued for car and suspect description.

Suspect: white male 50-60, balding in middle, gray hair, white shirt, dark pants, 6’1″ 220

Powder blue 93 Ford Taurus, K-State vanity plate, tag “225 BAB”.

Update 3 Horrible Crime + Stupidity = Bad News for us.

The folks over at the Daily KOS are already using the stupid comments of some at the Freep to paint pro-lifers as willing murders. This is just the beginning.

Update 4:
This Statement from Operation Rescue:

We are shocked at this morning’s disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down. Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller’s family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ.


Update 5:
Statement from Fr. Pavone of Priests for Life

“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.”

Update 6
Andrew Sullivan: “Christianist terrorism is no more defensible than Islamist terrorism.” Indeed.

Update 7
More Statements

Statement from Kansans for Life:

“Kansans for Life deplores the murder of Dr. George Tiller, and we wish to express our deep and sincere sympathy to his family and friends.

Our organization has a board of directors, and a 35 year history of bringing citizens together to achieve thoughtful education and legislation on the life issues here in Kansas.

We value life, completely deplore violence, and are shocked and very upset by what happened in Wichita today.”

Christian Defense Coalition Condemns Shooting of Dr. George Tiller

“Christian and pro-life leaders will hold a news conference in front of the US Supreme Court on Monday, June 1, at 10:00 A.M. to discuss the impact the shooting of Dr. George Tiller will have on the pro-life movement and the Supreme Court.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Washington, DC based Christian Defense Coalition is presently available for comment at 540-538-4741

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, national pro-life leader, former national spokesperson for Operation Rescue, had just completed leading two weeks of prayer vigils in Wichita during the trial of Dr. Tiller.

Rev. Patrick Mahoney condemns the shooting of Dr. George Tiller.”

Update 8
Can we all agree that Randall Terry should SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue states, “George Tiller was a mass-murderer. We grieve for him that he did not have time to properly prepare his soul to face God. I am more concerned that the Obama Administration will use Tiller’s killing to intimidate pro-lifers into surrendering our most effective rhetoric and actions. Abortion is still murder. And we still must call abortion by its proper name; murder.
“Those men and women who slaughter the unborn are murderers according to the Law of God. We must continue to expose them in our communities and peacefully protest them at their offices and homes, and yes, even their churches.”

Update 9
They Got Him!

Eyewitness News has confirmed the suspect in the shooting of Dr. George Tiller is in custody in the Kansas City area. Wichita police say the man was arrested near Gardner, KS at around 2:00 Sunday afternoon.

Update 10: Please think about your comments. We’re going to have a pretty heavy hand on this one in the combox. Our words will be used against us. Andrew Sullivan among others is hopping around and gathering up the worst comments. So please please focus on prayers for everyone involved in this.

Update 11: Abortion advocates are wasting little time in attacking pro-lifers. Says Life News: Saying that bringing the person who killed Tiller to justice is “not enough,” NOW called on the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security to “root out and prosecute as domestic terrorists and violent racketeers the criminal enterprise that has organized and funded criminal acts for decades.”

So, in short, they’re calling for a federal investigation into the pro-life movement because of the actions of one man. Mind you, we don’t even know the man’s name yet, never mind his affiliation with the pro-life movement.

And something tells me the term “racketeer” was used carefully as there have been other attempts to use RICO statutes against the pro-life movement.

Update 12: Says the AP:

Law enforcement authorities in suburban Kansas City have identified a man detained by police after a late-term abortion provider was shot to death in a Wichita church.

Johnson County sheriff’s spokesman Tom Erickson says Scott Roeder was the man whose car was stopped on Interstate 35 on Sunday, about three hours after the shooting of George Tiller.

Earlier in the day, Wichita police said the suspect was a 51-year-old man from Merriam, Kan., but they refused to identify him by name.

Roeder has not been charged in the slaying, but he was expected to be taken to Wichita for questioning.

The 67-year-old Tiller was serving as an usher Sunday when he was shot in the foyer of Reformation Lutheran Church.