Kansas abortion clinic reopens after doctor's murder

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
1/23/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Pro-life groups are trying to block or delay the reopening of the clinic

Dr. George Tiller was among only a few doctors in Wichita, Kansas - or the United States in general to perform late-term abortions before he was gunned down at a Wichita church in 2009. The clinic where he practiced is now set to reopen, and pro-life groups there are trying to make sure it stays closed.

Dr. George Tiller was among only a few doctors in Wichita, Kansas - or the United States in general to perform late-term abortions before he was gunned down at a Wichita church in 2009.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The clinic has come to light as the U.S. marks the 40th anniversary this week of the Roe vs. Wade U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Scott Roeder is serving a life sentence after testifying that he killed Tiller to stop abortions. Tiller had owned the clinic. His survivors decided to close it down and withdraw involvement following his murder.

Pro-life groups there are trying to block or delay the reopening of the clinic through a rezoning petition. They have also filed complaints to the city that permits haven't been issued as required for the clinic's indoor remodeling.

"Once they get the permits we'll be off to the next thing - we will try to persuade contractors not to work there," Cheryl Sullenger of the Wichita chapter of Operation Rescue says.

The building had previously been used to perform abortions, in addition to offering family planning and other gynecological care. When and if the building is reopened, the same services will be offered.

"We will continue to move forward to see that women have their rights," Julie Burkhart, who worked with Tiller's clinic for eight years on political and legislative issues, says. "It's incredibly important because women in this region need access to good medical care."

Women in the Wichita area have had to travel at least 150 miles to Oklahoma City or Kansas City for abortions since the clinic closed.

The Trust Women Foundation Inc., headed by Burkhart currently owns the single-story; nearly windowless clinic building that sits between a highway and a neighborhood of single-family homes.

Burkhart says that Tiller's murder spawned formation of the organization with the goal of reopening a clinic. It took 2-1/2 years to plan a new clinic, look for possible locations and raise money to buy the building, she said.

"This is absolutely one of the most difficult things I have had to do in my life," the 46-year-old Burkhart says. "I have a lot of brave people working with me."

In the past, the clinic was the site of constant picketing. Burkhart's home has also been picketed and she has been referred to as a killer in anti-abortion brochures, she said.

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Abortion, murder, Wichita, Kansas, pro-life, Tiller

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

leigh
3 months ago
It's disheartening to hear about violence from the pro-life side. I agree that the deceased abortion doctor was a murderer, whether he realized/admitted it or not. But shooting him was completely wrong. For one, you don't repay evil with evil. That's a basic Christian rule. Second, this was not even really a killing to protect the lives of the unborn babies. If an abortion doctor is killed, then that won't save the babies, because the clinic will simply find a replacement. They're already trying to reopen the abortion clinic, and those women who wanted abortions are in the mean time going to faraway cities. The killing of the unborn has not been stopped or delayed by the doctor's murder. If Scott really thought that he was saving the unborn, he needs to better reflect on his strategy. If he just killed the man to punish him, then he needs to reflect on the true Christian meaning of justice. All he succeeded in is creating a martyr for the pro-abortionists.
JoAnn
3 months ago
CORRECTION!!! The height of "domestic terrorism" is the murdering of 55 million babies in what is supposed to be the safest place in the world for our innocent children. Julie Burkhart IS a killer, just as the doctor was. Political corectness is killing this country. Tell it like it is. Maybe people will get the message better. God bless.
Bob
3 months ago
Lets face it, there are only two kinds of people in the world, Gods people, and the people that are not Gods people.
First, Tiller was not a doctor he was a murderer!
Second, Scott Roeder did not commit murder. Bloodshed is not murder.
Sometimes bloodshed is required to protect Gods people.
Gods people do not kill babies. It IS that simple.
I know we can not repay evil with evil. But are we not supposed to protect and defend the weak? I think we should all pray for Scott, and for God to put an end to this madness forever.
Josephine Boone
3 months ago
This article states that anti-abortion brochures have referred to this woman as a "killer". Please, when speaking and writing about this issue refrain from referring to anyone as a "killer". This only encourages the kind of person who murdered Dr. Tiller. It is certainly not Pro-life.
vance
3 months ago
Is Burkhart a murderer? I join the folks who say she is. Re-opening this clinic is reprehensible. But we can expect the Blood thirsty abortionists Democrats to charge on.

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