Dr. Tiller was not damned to hell

Mary Stuhr in her June 20 letter says that according to her morals, Dr. George Tiller, the late-term abortion doctor who was murdered, didn't have much chance of going to heaven because he violated God's fifth commandment, "Thou shall not kill." I myself feel just the opposite.

One must not apply God's commandments too absolutely. For example, one of God's commandments is that we should not work on the Sabbath or seventh day, yet we know that many stores and businesses are open and working on that day, and we all patronize them.

Another of God's commandments is that one should not covet thy neighbor's wife, but I daresay that does not mean that it is all right to covet thy neighbor's husband.

So you see, God's commandments in many instances are not to be construed as absolutes. Similarly with the commandment, thou shall not kill, which Ms. Stuhr asserts as a ground for keeping Dr. Tiller out of heaven. We know that one may kill another in self-defense; and also if we are at war for justified reasons, we may kill the enemy. So God's fifth commandment is not to be construed as an absolute prohibition against all killing.

Similarly, if a pregnant woman seeks a late-term abortion, we must balance her right of choice against the mere potentiality of the unborn fetus within her womb. In these circumstances, I believe Dr. Tiller was performing a true service for this woman in providing her an abortion, and he was not engaged in "killing."

God's commandment, "Thou shall not kill," simply is not applicable in such situations. I would never view Dr. Tiller as a killer, to be damned to perdition. I do believe Dr. Tiller led a meaningful and good life of service to others and is, indeed, in heaven.

Theodore M. Utchen

Wheaton