Christian, I think there is something here, though I do not stand exactly where Frank Schaeffer stands. And I say that because this is the son of Francis Schaeffer and a recent convert to Orthodoxy. Those two things mean something to me because I'm connected to him in certain ways. (Beyond the most essential connection of our being brothers in Christ.) I have been where he is, read his book A Time for Anger when I was in college.
I'll probably talk about this more later. And while my heart does not break at the murder of Tiller, as it ought to, these are important issues for Catholics and all Christians to wrestle with. Murder does not flow out of the Spirit of Christ. And Tiller's murderer made himself like Tiller. And that is tragic indeed.
I would add that it seems the rhetoric has remained in the convert - life would be better served in quiet prayer - but that's not a condemnation so much as an observation, because the same thing is evident in my own life. Conversion takes a little longer than a lifetime.
How does it help bring down the rhetoric that this interviewer injected terrorism, a terrorist group about one person (or a very few from the past)? I do appreciate Shaeffer's apology. I cringed when he said there are those who would raise a glass to Tiller. So sad! I am not one of them.
Here's my take: 4 abortion doctors have been killed since Roe v Wade, if I recall correctly. Schaffer's carrying on about prolife extremism/violence is way, way out of proportion. I really don't care what people may or may not say privately, since virtually everyone says thing privately they wouldn't say publicly. Does anyone really think what Falwall or Schaeffer said privately have some influence on this murderer? About like a butterfly affecting a thunderstorm. 4 murdered abortionists since 1973 is proportionately speaking, a non-issue. And proportion matters.
Try to think of any category of murdered people where the US total is 4 in 35 years. Then try to make it into some special problem that requires the likes of Schaeffer to flog millions of other people. I doubt it can be done.
That Frank Schaeffer is criticizing his father merely tells us that he has a microphone in front of him. My first encounter with him as a writer was with Keeping Faith, and even there, although he doesn't mention Francis Schaeffer by name and the book is about a completely different subject, his contempt for his upbringing is palpable and he makes sure it gets some air time.
Of course, to say Mr. Schaeffer is engaging in verbal patricide doesn't necessarily mean he is wrong, just embittered and vengeful. But I think an honest evaluation of what incitement to murder really looks like reveals that what the pro-life movement has done doesn't come close.
6 comments:
He's pro-choicer enunciating the pro-choice position.....nothing to see here.
Christian, I think there is something here, though I do not stand exactly where Frank Schaeffer stands. And I say that because this is the son of Francis Schaeffer and a recent convert to Orthodoxy. Those two things mean something to me because I'm connected to him in certain ways. (Beyond the most essential connection of our being brothers in Christ.) I have been where he is, read his book A Time for Anger when I was in college.
I'll probably talk about this more later. And while my heart does not break at the murder of Tiller, as it ought to, these are important issues for Catholics and all Christians to wrestle with. Murder does not flow out of the Spirit of Christ. And Tiller's murderer made himself like Tiller. And that is tragic indeed.
I would add that it seems the rhetoric has remained in the convert - life would be better served in quiet prayer - but that's not a condemnation so much as an observation, because the same thing is evident in my own life. Conversion takes a little longer than a lifetime.
How does it help bring down the rhetoric that this interviewer injected terrorism, a terrorist group about one person (or a very few from the past)?
I do appreciate Shaeffer's apology. I cringed when he said there are those who would raise a glass to Tiller. So sad! I am not one of them.
Here's my take: 4 abortion doctors have been killed since Roe v Wade, if I recall correctly. Schaffer's carrying on about prolife extremism/violence is way, way out of proportion. I really don't care what people may or may not say privately, since virtually everyone says thing privately they wouldn't say publicly. Does anyone really think what Falwall or Schaeffer said privately have some influence on this murderer? About like a butterfly affecting a thunderstorm. 4 murdered abortionists since 1973 is proportionately speaking, a non-issue. And proportion matters.
Try to think of any category of murdered people where the US total is 4 in 35 years. Then try to make it into some special problem that requires the likes of Schaeffer to flog millions of other people. I doubt it can be done.
That Frank Schaeffer is criticizing his father merely tells us that he has a microphone in front of him. My first encounter with him as a writer was with Keeping Faith, and even there, although he doesn't mention Francis Schaeffer by name and the book is about a completely different subject, his contempt for his upbringing is palpable and he makes sure it gets some air time.
Of course, to say Mr. Schaeffer is engaging in verbal patricide doesn't necessarily mean he is wrong, just embittered and vengeful. But I think an honest evaluation of what incitement to murder really looks like reveals that what the pro-life movement has done doesn't come close.
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