Think of it as an old story: crusades, jihads, religious wars. George Tiller is just the latest martyr to be cut down in church (or synagogue or mosque) by those who are sure that God (or Yahweh or Allah) wants them to. The most-shocking thing may be that it's in Wichita rather than Baghdad; but don't forget that Dr. Tiller was shot before, and had his clinic bombed. It's just a smaller instance of the terrorism that visited Oklahoma City and lower Manhattan; and one in a long line of anti-choice assassinations that have been perpetrated over the decades since Roe v. Wade. And just think of Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limpballs as the latest Henry II to ask "who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?" Except rather than be overheard by a few knights, they have repeatedly proclaimed it to millions in their audiences. The gunman may have ACTED alone on Sunday; but he was programmed to act that way by hateful organizations and personalities.

My family was visiting my mother in Wichita on this weekend. Her house is only about a mile from the church. We were driving past the church on Sunday and saw a bunch of emergency vehicles. Later found out what had happened. At least we were there to attend the vigil that night with several other people -- and Fred Phelp's crew being kept across a street by the police. We know several people who worked with Tiller or otherwise knew him. And of course he was a major, important source of medical care for women nationwide, as well as an important political player in the pro-choice cause. He cannot be replaced, although perhaps more providers can be encouraged to take on some of the care he provided. It hit us hard; and it will hit millions of women hard across the nation, even if many of them don't know it yet.